I'm OUTRAGED. The judges say "The public can have their vote until we say they are wrong". So much for democracy, & they treat this show as if it's really a dancing class & not in fact entertainment. i want to vote for John because he's a joy, & now I'm denied that right.

Myra Davies, Bedford,

there would have been more votes for the real competitors if the telephone networks would let us vote....we tried on virgin and network 3 just to be told that these calls are not allowed

simkins, west midlands, england

When I watched the results on Sunday I was happy to see that John & Kristina had been saved. He has been so entertaining and an absolute joy to watch. As for the mean spirited judges telling us how we should be voting. We vote for those we want back next week and we want John.

Dide, Sutton, england

How sad it has come to this. It is supposed to be a fun show raising money for Children in Need which has now been spoilt. John was put in an awful position. Does it matter who wins, they all have other careers. I'm not watching any more.

Alison, Worthing, West Sussex

John was bullied off the show. The judges should get a life. Arlene is a spiteful nobody. What wasa fun and entertaining programme is now becoming too serious - for what? Unlike X factor there is no dancing career for the winner. I'm not watching any more

Mike, Virginia Water,

Aparently ballroom dancing is not about having fun and dancing to the best of your ability but how close to a professional dancer you are. Clearly if you are not at nearly professional level you shouldn't bother to get up on to the dancefloor.
Well done on promoting ballroom to the masses...

repmov, Newbury,

Shame on the BBC for allowing John to leave. This is a democratically run programme. If the public want to see John Sergeant, that's the whole point: they get to see him. Watch the viewing figures plummet.

Sharon Holmes, Teddington,

It's "strictly come dancing" not "strictly come entertaining". Those who vote for John purely to rile the judges are spoiling the whole experience for real fans.

Why have a phone vote at all? What do the viewers know about dancing? Not much if their voting is anything to go by!

Karen, Hornchurch, Essex

I agree it is an entertainment programme and that is what John is providing.Was this not the first week that John was given constructive criticism instead of being slated? Personally I am impressed that he turns up every week. Cherie`s partner James is a bad loser and should have kept his mouth shut

susan , stirling, scotland

It's Arlene who should be given the heave-ho.. It's amazing just how immature,downright silly and attention-seeking a sixty-four year woman can be.
It's as if she spent her growing-up period in hibernation!

james wilson, bolton, england

I think Sergeant has a very good chance of winning if only because the public are sick of being force-fed "expert"-led "reality" drivel and will react with their votes. With any luck it'll prove to be a huge nail in the coffin of this style of televisual garbage.

Alastair Johnson, Alicante, Spain

When will the "judges" realise that this programme is purely for entertainment and NOT a real talent contest! The viewers are truely voting for what they want, so stop moaning and get a life. Sheesh......some people take thing too seriously.

Phil, Aberdeen, Scotland

The reason John is still in the competition is the judges own fault. If they weren't so vile in their comments the public wouldn't be calling in with their sympathy votes.

Helen, London, England

They put him in so they could have a laugh at him for the first couple of weeks. Now the laugh is on them.

I do hope he does go all the way to win. Makes an otherwise truely dreadful TV series far more fun

Pete, Edinburgh,

John Sergeant was brought into the show to be the Joker. They always have one. Now it has backfired on them. Deal with it!!!

Gerd Holmes, Plymouth, Devon

Let us not take ourselves too seriously ! Dancing is an amusement. He and his partner are enjoying themselves, and we the spectators are enjoying them. In view of the entertainment they have given us; I hope they win. Annoying the all knowing judges is also enjoyable.

Mike Ryan, Christchurch, U.K.

I thought the original idea was to raise money for charity. More votes more money. Or have I got it wrong. A 'serious' dance competion with 'B' listers???? Do me a favour!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go for it John. This is the first year I have watched the program for this long.

Sylvie, Skelmersdale, W. Lancs

JS should have been a politician not a commentator. He has the ego for it. He has caught the Obama moment he truly believes the people love him.
It won't last .

I find him foolish but my 9 year old grand-daughter likes him.

diane, wimborne, UK

IArlene and the other judges have made a grave error of judgement - John represents a huge majority of dancing public - us grey haired 65+ year olds. I think that the democratic vote will see John through to the final at least - simply because the judges are judging not John but the rest of us.

Charles Dowie, epworth, UK

Arlene Phillips' desolation is surly misplaced when her vote ensured Cherie lost her place in the competition – the judges' marking is often just as subjective as the public's.

Caro , London,

I hope its not suicital despair

simon, Southampton, uk

it's an entertainment program and John Sargeant is providing the entertainment.

Mike, Sole Street, England

Tghe great English public isaroused and is once again speaking up fo the little guy! Let's cut th tall poppies down and support the pommi battler. Go John go!

William, Guildfor, UK

the world spins and we spin with it (no pun intended)

Bill Gallas, Clairefontaine,

John you are also an inspiration to the younger people too!
No one should be brought and used as canon fodder, what they are saying is that they brought john in as joke, that I say is disrepectful. JOHN WINS.

BASSI, London, uk

The postings on here only point in one direction

- you can't have "judges" they "judge" - can't have "referees" they "referee"

If you can stick two fingers to any form of authority that's the norm.

The whole country is on the brink of anarchy.

RogerK, Briouze, France

I on the other hand will laugh my socks off -and I'm not raging about this just enjoying the spectacle ..

Tony, Cardiff,

"Mr Sergeant should be asked ..." says a poster. No Mr Sergeant should not be asked anything.The public is having a whale of a time making this into the programme they want to see. Second thoughts BBC? Change the audience? I wouldn't think so. Conflict makes ratings.

john, edinburgh,

It's just a tv show!
People getting upset by John Sergeant being voted in should switch their telly off and get a life.
Keep dancing....

Marie, London,

This is no joke, the debate happening about John & SCD reminds us of the essence of our Britishness. Most of all our sense of humour. Support for underdog with clear dissadvantage to begin with (age). Not taking ourselves too seriously (unlike the judges). The things we should be proud of &celebrate

Chris, Preston, UK

Anybody who takes this programme seriously needs their head testing.

Is the BBC providing counselling for ego-deflated judges and contestants?

Michael Smith, Southampton, UK

I've been taking dancing lessons for 2 years now and have yet to recognise a single proper step on "strictly" come dancing. Clearly my progress is on a par with John's! I'm on his side...

Colin Burn, wymondham,

I remember the, "Vote for the fat kid" campaign a few years ago on another of these telephone votes. Was it X factor? Some such rubbish anyway. That was hilarious and so is this!! I love to see trash like this ruined by people power!!

Deano, Cam, Gloucestershire

So now "Craig the Judge" has published a book !

I wonder if it has any entertainment value or if he is only expecting people who are serious about dancing to buy it?

I really hope they haven't printed to many copies ............

Michael, Nottingham, UK

Well done John - go for it. We are all rooting for you. The Judges are almost as entertaining as you, but for the fact that they take themselves too seriously. You're the best advert for all left footed would be dancers to have a go.

gilmartin, bristol, england

They only have "older" people in there to make fun of them. They were proved wrong this time by Cherie Lunghi, who actually could dance and John Sergeant, who is clearly being voted for by the millions of over-40's who are sick to death of being patronised & marginalised by the BBC.

Katie, Bristol,

The programe has now become a joke. Perhaps someone should have a word with John Sargeant and encourage him to fall on his sword! Will he do it, no. Will he win it, probably. Like I said SCD is now a joke.

jeff, london,

What does Arlene Phillips think this is? Did she really think she was appearing on a serious dance programme? It's not - it's just cheap entertainment. More fool her for taking the money.

Tom, Miami,

Come dancing was cancelled becausae of no interest. This programme has created interest because of the likes of John Sergeant and the fact that it is NOT strictly, despite what the title says.The judges need to know their place and maybe phone lines should be opened up to see which judge goes!

mark, shotts,

Good grief!

Simes, Sevenoaks,

Has it occurred to the judges/producers that the public is bored with the format of the show after 6 series and are now entertained by someone who makes a mockery of a specialist and inaccessible talent? In the current economic climate, who really cares about a B list celebrity learning to dance?

Douglas, Windsor, UK

David in London, Firstly, this is a Saturday night entertainment show, nothing more nothing less. It isn't the Olympics. Secondly, the vote is democratic. You are throwing a hissyfit because you don't like the results. a) Tough! b) Deal with it!

Colin, Wokingham, UK

Simple answer - the judges give all the other contestants the same marks, and higher than John. Therefore all the other contestants would have 8 points, John would have one. Then he would have to get more votes than everyone else to survive. Let's dance dirty.

Timbo, London, UK

What the judges seem to forget is that if John had already been voted off the show we would still have two couples who they, the judges, feel are to good to voted off. All that has happened is that the betters dancers are being selected one week early. Vote off Arlene, if only!

Bernard , Northorpe, Lincs

Isn't it interesting how successful John Sergeant is each week now that the BBC has much tighter scrutiny of its phone poll systems.

I wonder how many took an early exit in previous shows after a bit of figure adjustment?

Peter Evans, swansea, UK

I never voted before. I will now vote for John Sergeant and hope the BBC will get rid of the pompous judges!

Leo M, London, UK

Interesting debate. Mr Sergeant should be asked - "If a contestant chose to perform whatever "dance" he or she wished in whatever costume he or she felt most entertaining, would it be within the rules and would it be acceptable for the public to vote for that person." If the answer is yes, then...

John Stobart, Oakham Rutland, UK

This is not a popularity contest, its called Strictly Come DANCING. It is a COMPETITION to select the celebrities that perform best at DANCING. If the public has not understood this, then I despair of their intelligence. If he is kept in next week, I, for one, will never watch SCD again.

David, London,

if he just reads the paper and jokes around then how come his marks improved so much last week?

alastair harris, DERBY,

Many people are probably voting For John S in protest at the judges' rudeness.

Michael Watson, Bromley,

A judge who rails against the viewers' decision is too prejudiced to continue...her contract should be ceased straight away.

Willy Heckaslyke, london, uk

We don't know whether Arline really means this or is being controversial to keep the ratings up. This is not a dance competition, if it was John would never have been selected, it is entertainment, and clearly ythe public find John entertaining.
A A Gill hits the nail perfectly, see http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article5141195.ece

Rob Williams, Sudbury, Suffolk, England

I think John Sergeant should now bow out gracefully. He has shown the power of the public vote but staying in the competition is destroying it for those of us who like to see good dancing and see new talent and effort rewarded. If he wins what does he tell us about ourselves?

Ralph, Matlock, UK

I'm voting for John Sergeant and nothing's gonna stop me. It's much more fun and much more interesting. If they want a proper dance competition they should have one. It wouldn't get the audience. They only allowed Mr Sergeant on because they thought he would be good fun. Now he's too much fun.

Paul McNab, Reading, UK

Ah bless her, perhaps she should relinquish the vaulted position from where she has been stuck up.

Douglas Miller, Fulham,

Maybe some people vote in reaction against the number of 'voting' programmes we get: Maria, Joseph, Oliver, Nancy, X Factor and so on. Do the programme planners have any other ideas? They certainly have our licence money. I agree with Daphne; it isn't going to change the world.

steve, preston, uk

The BBC could sort this out for next year by changing the way the final is organised - ie having 3 couples in the final and the judges decide that one couple goes, and then the audience decides between the remaining two. So the no-hoper might make the final but couldn't win.

Helen, Fleet, UK

If John Sargeant wins then might as well cancel the show, it will be ruined and not worth watching, all sorts of clowns will come out of the woodwork to compete for the silliest dancers next time. After all a public who watch Big Brother cannot be trusted to vote sensibly.

Graham, Driffield, UK

I hope that John wins!

I so hate this tacky programme.

Michael H Leigh, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

It's a joke, but it's not against the rules and it's only a glittery trophy at stake. Who cares?

Hollie, London, UK

What's the point of having duffers like Sergeant in the competition (and previously Tarbuck, Dickinson, Hunniford et al). Are they cannon fodder, to be dispatched early? Can the BBC not get a full quota of young, fit people to compete on a level playing field?

Arlene, thou dost protest too much!

Simon, Stockport,

A A Gill had it right this weekend. The public are voting for entertainment. And when you let them do that, you really can't compain when they please themselves. That is the reality of the 'reality' show. It's the 'competition' that's the illusion. Naive to thnk otherwise.

john, edinburgh,

the people to blame for this is whoever enlisted the celebs ,its obvious to any fool that john cant dance ,if you want a serious competition only choose young and fit and able ,really, the way arlene is going on you would think it was going to change the world ,and how john has kept his dignity,xxxx

daphne , woking, england

Stay strong John Sergeant, we're supporting you all the way.
You are an inspiration to the older generation. Show us all that dance is about fun, and the show about entertainment.
Defy the bullies and keep dancing. BTW he may sit down a lot because he is twice the age of all the "favourite" kids

Chris, Preston, UK

Let's be honest about it, the judges are having a field day with their mock indignation, trying to provoke a republic response that is putting money in their pockets. John Sargent is making this edition of SCD (so close to a more appropriate acronym) massively financially succesful.

Eric Norton, London,

Its good to see these pompous judges squeal. It is the loss of control they dislike. Who cares if John sees off some his fellow contestants who lets face it will go out sometime. As long as the eventual winner is Austin, Tom or the little singer girl we are all happy. In the meantime - 'Go John'

Jem, Kibworth Beauchamp, Leics

Vile judges cut ground from under their own feet by an ongoing, now intensifying, campaign against a competitor who would be in no position to compete and who could be mocked in the meantime. Any self-respecting public despises such nastiness. What we're seeing is a TV landmark, thanks to democracy.

Pete, London, United Kingdom