Sergeant quit to avoid 'battle'

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John Sergeant - pictured today

The former BBC political correspondent, who was criticised by the show's judges for his clumsy footwork, brushed aside suggestions that he was pushed out by TV bosses.

He said: "Anyone thinking that I can be leant on or bullied does not know me very well. I decide to choose my own battles. What I did not want was a bloody battle."

Sergeant said he would end his dancing career with a last waltz with his partner, Kristina Rihanoff, on Saturday.

At a hastily arranged press conference at BBC Television Centre, Sergeant was grilled by among others Newsnight heavyweight Jeremy Paxman over the reasons for his departure.

In front of a glitzy backdrop, Sergeant - sitting alongside his dancing partner, BBC1 controller Jay Hunt and entertainments commissioner Elaine Bedell - defended his move to quit the show.

Seemingly bemused by the lines of reporters gathered, Sergeant said: "It is quite absurd that I should be in this position having a news conference."

He continued: "The reasons for leaving; well it is like when do you leave a party?

"You leave before the fighting starts and I think that is what has happened on this occasion.

"We had fun dancing and dancing is a wonderfully enjoyable thing, but if the joke wears thin, if people begin to take things very seriously and if people are getting so wound up that is very difficult to carry on the joke, then it is time to go."

During the press conference, Ms Hunt announced that anyone who voted for Sergeant and wanted to be reimbursed, would be.

The ousted dancer himself said he had planned a routine to Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Murder On The Dance Floor. "It ended up with me firing imaginary bullets at the judges," he said.

He added: "It would have amused me, and maybe lots of people in the audience, but some people would say 'Here we go - not more John Sergeant ruining a marvellous dancing competition'. The idea that we would carry on doing this week after week - irritating and annoying people and causing controversy - that is not what I'm about and that is not why I wanted to join the show."

Sergeant also brushed aside rumours that the real reason for his departure was a forthcoming holiday booking.

He joked and said: "I do have a contract with a cruise liner to take me through the Panama Canal in two weeks' time but that had nothing to do with it."

Sergeant also addressed criticism from Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips that instead of rehearsing he just "sits and reads the Guardian".

Sergeant said he had to keep up with the economic crisis and election news from the US. Asked what he intends to do now that his dancing career is over, Sergeant said: "I shall return to my rather quiet life."

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