Arlene Phillips' Sergeant sickness

Tuesday, 18 November 2008

Arlene Phillips says she will be "sick" if John Sergeant makes the 'Strictly Come Dancing' final.

The TV talent show judge is furious the public have constantly saved John from leaving the show, and has claims his lack of dancing prowess is making a mockery of the programme.

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Arlene told Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "We have always had good dancers win the show - I would be devastated if he even got as far as the final. If 'Strictly' becomes about popularity rather than dancing, then there's no point us advising the contestants.

John has lost 28lbs while on the show, but his lack of talent has earned him the nickname "the dancing pig in Cuban heels".

Arlene has made little secret of her desire to see him leave the show, and has even accused him of not taking the training seriously enough.

She said: "There is nothing that is correct about his performances. He is just getting through the dances. In terms of dance, everything is wrong with it - his posture, his movement, the position of his head. When the celebrities put in hours in the practice studio they are constantly working.

"They do not sit down but I know John is not making much effort. He just sits there and reads the paper. If it's all about personality why don't the girls just all throw off their clothes and the boys do a comedy dance?"

In last week's show, the judges - Arlene, Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli - were forced to vote off Cherie Lunghi after she faced model Lisa Snowdon in the dance-off.

Despite receiving the lowest score from the judges, John was saved by the public.

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