Sergeant’s Sidestep
You could be forgiven for thinking that a cabinet minister had resigned yesterday after being caught with his pants down. But in fact, this morning’s front pages all carry doorstep pictures of former BBC political reporter John Sergeant, who’s "decided" to quit the ballroom dance contest Strictly Come Dancing in spite of a tidal wave of pubic support. The big question is: was he leaned on?
Now I’m a bit lazy when it comes to watching TV. I don’t vote for anything. In fact, I long for a night in front of the box when I’m not expected to interact in any way. I’m old fashioned like that. I just like to watch TV. Millions however, seem to enjoy nothing more than calling or texting in an effort to sway the final outcome of a show or series. And that’s absolutely fine by me - just as long as the programme makers respect the audience input they’ve invited.
Clearly, John Sergeant is no Fred Astaire but nevertheless, thousands have voted again and again to keep him in the competition - drawing a string of sanctimonious outbursts from the show’s panel of judges who feel that this Light Entertainment strand has become a laughing stock. Excuse me, but isn’t that the whole point of LE?
I’m sure John Sergeant is a decent chap - I thoroughly enjoyed reading his autobiography a couple of years ago and came to the conclusion that he was indeed a good egg. But did he really have a crisis of conscience about the possibility of winning the contest or did the TV Staasi knock on his door in the middle of the night?
But hang on, this isn’t the first time an underdog championed by the public has disappeared from a talent contest overnight, is it? Remember super-sized Rik Waller who withdrew from ITV’s Pop Idol due to (FX: coughs) a "throat infection"? Similarly, Waller’s performances received huge support from the voting public but he too vanished from our screens amid accusations that pressure had been applied to make him go quietly.
Look, if you ask the public to decide the outcome of a contest or even the name of a cat - like it or not - you have to be prepared for and accept the results with good grace, or else audiences will simply start voting with their feet.
Just be careful what you wish for.