'Strictly Come Dancing' will be "worse off" for John Sergeant's dramatic departure, a former contestant said today.
GMTV presenter Andrew Castle, who was voted off the series earlier this month, claimed the programme would suffer because some people were taking it too seriously.
Castle said the 64-year-old former BBC political correspondent had "played a brilliant game from beginning to end. He leaves the programme undefeated, his flag flying high, and the programme will be worse off for it because at end of the day it's an entertainment show and some people have failed in a spectacular fashion to see that."
Castle made his comments in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live.
Sergeant's decision sparked an outcry among fans who claim he was forced out. However, Sergeant brushed off suggestions he had been bullied and said he left to avoid a "bloody battle".
He said there was a real danger he might win and told a press conference at BBC Television Centre in London yesterday: "That is a frightening thought, it is a terrifying thought. I didn't want that to happen because it would have been a very bittersweet victory."
Falling back on his years of political election reporting, he added: "The problem was there was no viable Stop Sergeant candidate."
High profile fans rallied round Sergeant yesterday, including Tory leader David Cameron, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson, TV personality Cilla Black and comedian Les Dennis.
Mr Cameron said: "Along with the rest of the country - I am devastated."
Strictly judge Arlene Phillips told the BBC that Sergeant had his "own reasons" for the move. When asked if she felt responsible for his departure, she said: "Not really. If you look back, we've actually been quite nice on this programme."
Phillips pointed out that it was not the first time a weak dancer had been backed by the public over the professionals.
Strictly's head judge Len Goodman said he would have held on in there if he were Sergeant.
The show's host Bruce Forsyth said that he felt sad for Sergeant. He told the BBC: "He looks at all the other dancers and he knows they're better dancers than him and he must have felt, over the last few weeks, he must have been very guilty in a way."
