DANCING WITH THE STARS - U.K. VIEWERS OUTRAGED OVER DEPARTURE OF DANCE CONTESTANT

U.K. VIEWERS OUTRAGED OVER DEPARTURE OF DANCE CONTESTANT

More than 2,100 viewers have flooded the BBC with complaints following the withdrawal of former news correspondent John Sergeant as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing, the U.K. version of Dancing With the Stars . Week after week Sergeant had received the lowest marks from the show's judges but had been brought back by voting viewers. At a news conference on Wednesday, Sergeant said he decided to withdraw because he had "the frightening thought" that he might win. "Even for me that would be a joke too far," he said. "If the joke wears thin, if in fact people begin to take it very seriously, and if people really are getting so wound up that it's very difficult to carry off the joke, then I think it is time to go," he added. The BBC said that Sergeant will perform a "farewell" dance during Saturday's telecast. It also said it would offer to refund the cost of phone calls made by viewers who voted for Sergeant.

20/11/2008