This is the question I asked myself as I sat watched TV last night in open mouthed disbelief at the news coverage given to John Sargeant leaving Strictly Come Dancing. It was on Sky, BBC, Channel Four, endless news bulletins and then I discovered that JS had give a PRESS CONFERENCE. Yes, a press conference flanked by the great and the good at the BBC, and the likes of Jeremy Paxman in attendance. Then It Takes Two was extended to a two hour special in which John was interviewed as if he had just taken over the role of Prime Minister. It would be amusing if it was not so stunningly appalling at the publicity being given to this event. Have we no sense of proportion at all?
The interview with John S on ITT was sheer delight. If ever a man was enjoying his Fifteen Minutes of Fame it was him. We had this slightly distressed and rueful Gosh what have we done stance throughout the air time he was given, hardly ever interrupted so we could really see and realise what a Great Man he was for falling on his sword, doing the right thing, leaving with dignity etc, tears from his partner gently wiped away so the mascara stayed in place. He manipulated it all beautifully and has obviously learned how to 'spin' with the best of them after his years of observing politicians at close quarters. Claudia, who has made no secret of her favouritism but was hauled over the coals about it earlier this week after a quite blatent Let's Vote for John interview, read out all these 'sweet' messages which are flooding the forums, says she. Oddly enough not one message which said the opposite, and there were plenty of them believe you me, were aired.
One could only sit back and admire it all. I gather John and his partner Kristina who is a shoe in for next year I would think, should the programme survive, are going to perform a last waltz on Saturday. Why? He has left so go. Instead, he will be back for one more fix and the entire Saturday night programme will, once more, be hijacked by him. I gather Bruce Forsyth made the comment that John's going ruined his opening gag which was 'Welcome to the John Sergeant Show'. Point made I think.
It also appears that Brucie was invited on Newsnight. NEWSNIGHT!!!!
Apparently viewers have been voting for John in order to 'upset the judges', 'to see the judges faces and laugh' , and the more the judges are 'nasty' the more they will vote for the contestant, and other reasoned arguments. OK so why are Mark Foster and Andrew Castle not still on the show? They had some pretty harsh comments to put up with. Perhaps this is a case of the disgruntled BBC licence holders taking their opportunity to cock a snook at the corporation and as I have been angry at them recently myself, can feel a modicum of sympathy for them. I am glad that John has gone as I felt the joke was wearing pretty thin and hope that we can now concentrate on the dancing which last week, in particular, was of a very high quality. The progress made by the contestants, and yes I use the word contestants, as this is a competition, has been amazing and Austin's tango, Rachel's rumba and Tom's salsa last week were enormous fun and simply terrific to watch but in all this JS hoo ha this has been totally lost.
Anyway, enough now I think. But in closing may I say a few things: the accusations of bullying are seriously silly. John Sergeant has been a journalist and a seasoned political correspondent for many years and has locked horns with Mrs Thatcher on more than one occasion. Are we meant to believe that a man like this can be bullied? I don't think so. Also, tucked away in a small corner of a daily paper this morning is a report of an after dinner speech given at a function about two years ago in which Strictly Come Dancing featured and the speaker rather mocked the show and said he would never appear on it. The speaker? - yes John Sergeant.
It also appears that Mr S is off this weekend on an all expenses paid cruise where he is booked as a speaker. I would hate to suggest that this might just be the reason for his leaving and he has, of course, denied it, but this cynic here does wonder. It also transpires that his 2002 autobiography might be updated with a section on Come Dancing, his agent is taking bookings for his after dinner speeches where he will no doubt be frightfully amusing about it all. And yet the papers are portraying him as a sweet, cuddly grandad who has been treated dreadfully badly.
I would really really love to know why he agreed to appear in the first place. Puzzle to me.
And finally, watched It Takes two tonight - not one mention of him, all about dancing and it was SUCH a relief....
