http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7737447.stm

Such a pity, I know he was not technically good, but sooooo entertaining and such a gentleman, it just won't be the same without him :(

I was really enjoying John at the stage where there were other bad dancers to be knocked out ... but have to say I've gone past it now. Shame that he had to make the decision to pull out, as I think there was bad feeling, but I would hate to have seen him win.

M.

Every year there are the same complaints about hopeless dancers going from round to round in the show, knocking out much better dancers in the process. I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing John strut his stuff each week and do feel it's a shame he's now gone.

I think the judges should shut up complaining. If they want a dance competition and nothing else they should only have celebrities that are under 40, not overweight and fit (says she who is over 40 and overweight!). Those that are older, fatter and obviously not dancers are put in for entertainment, which is what the show is all about.

>Those that are older, fatter and obviously not dancers are put in for entertainment, which is what the show is all about.

And he certainly entertained in spectacular style!

If the judges want a serious competition shey should have public auditions IMO - 'Celebrity' Anything is purely for entertainment purposes and not to be taken seriously.

> If the judges want a serious competition shey should have public auditions IMO - 'Celebrity' Anything is purely for entertainment purposes and not to be taken seriously

....and they take money from those public votes don't they?  Churlish to then whine that they are not voting in the way you want them to :-)

I think the whole thing is rediculas. I am glad he has pulled out. I like him, I enjoy watching him and wont be watching again. What I didnt enjoy was listening to the jokes ever week about him and the awfull comments. Last week was terrible and I really felt for him.

So what if some dancers went out before him. He wasnt going to win and they had to leave at some point. Its not like there is a big cheque at the end for the winner. I thought he was fab and enjoyed him, thought his dry sense of humour was great.

Now I think its time for that dottery old fool that presents the programme to step down to. He has made one to many hurtfull jokes for my liking.

At the end of the day no one has died it is just a sat night programme that all the contestants are getting paid very well to preform in.

>Now I think its time for that dottery old fool that presents the programme to step down to.

Now there we DO agree LOL. Can't comment on the hurtful jokes, as he's so cringe-making I record it and forward fast whenever he or Tess Daly are on screen.

M.

Sorry but I like Bruce, I think he's still a very intelligent man at an age where many are put down.  I enjoy his banter, although it does get a bit much at time.

Will miss John, he made me smile and he was what the show was all about ENTERTAINMENT!  Though it wuold have been a travesty if he'd won!

I wonder what they will do next year now the public have learned this little trick to entertain themselves :-)

I watched his press conference and it was very sad.  He spoke about people getting 'very up tight' and all the 'argy bargy' behind the scenes.

I think is is a  great shame John has felt the need to withdraw but I'm so glad I voted for him.  I think the judging panel are so 'up themselves' (are you allowed to say that on Champdogs), I have been reading that Arlene Philips thought he was lazy, but you don't lose two stones in weight sitting on your bum reading The Telegraph, I know, I have tried.  All that has really happened is that people have left a week earlier than they would have left had John not been there.  It's a bit like showing a dog that has one or two faults.  You are never going to reach the dizzy heights but you enjoy your outings knowing your limitations.  What are you supposed to do stay at home and not participate even though you enjoy it.

Sometimes people participate in things just for the fun of it, at least the voting  public noticed.

****Vote anton to Present /take over from brucie!******

Im sad JS has gone, & sad he felt he should. If its going to be voted by public things like this will happen, if the want the "best" DAncers thru, it should be judges scores only!

It's disgraceful that the poor bloke has felt the need to pull out of the competition. Why on earth was he allowed to enter if he wasn't truly a contender? Why can the public not vote for WHOEVER they like? I thought it was supposed to be fun entertainment for goodness sake. Grrrrrrrrrrrr.

Don't fret :-)  He has won an enormous boost to his celebrity status which is what it is all about isn't it?  Doubled his appearance fees at least, I should imagine :-)

> He has won an enormous boost to his celebrity status which is what it is all about isn't it? 

Well that's true. :-)
I don't even watch the programme (I find BF unbearable!) but my children love it! I do like JS though. He's such a character.

> I don't even watch the programme

Me neither.  I don't even know why I am posting :-D

Did you see him on it take 2. He was talking about a forum and someone had said they wanted him to be their grandad.  That ME lol on the bbc talk forum.  I was gobsmacked unless of course someone else had said the same thing elsewere. But it just shows that these celebs to read the stuff that is written about them.

I briefly watched some of it takes 2.. I was not overcome by the way he treated his dancing partner who was crying and upset. She needed comforting and he refused to do it and kept changing the subject.. Thought that was quite rude and heartless... Unless she was playing to the cameras and he knew this.

Sorry but I like Bruce, I think he's still a very intelligent man at an age where many are put down.

I'm with you on that one perrodeagua, I like Bruce, a true gentleman and one of the old style entertainers, and I also hope they don't put him down :)

Am I the only one on here who is pleased that JS has pulled out.  I thought he was quite arrogant and as for not putting his arm around his partner and giving her some comfort when she was upset was very insensitive.  As for expecting to get to the final I think that was very up himself.  Yes he is a very nice man and at the beginning amusing but as time went on I thought his ego took over.  Brucie always makes be smile go Brucie

CarolW

>If its going to be voted by public things like this will happen, if the want the "best" DAncers thru, it should be judges scores only!

Yep. That's democracy for you! Give the Great British Public a choice and who knows what they'll do. :-D And the national psyche is to support the underdog, so the more the (arrogant?) judges slated him, the more support they were guaranteeing him. :-D

>as for not putting his arm around his partner and giving her some comfort when she was upset was very insensitive.

Remember that nowadays that can be seen as s*xual harassment; even teachers aren't allowed to do that to children who are upset.

thought he was quite arrogant and as for not putting his arm around his partner and giving her some comfort when she was upset was very insensitive.

I think JS is extremely sensitive, one of the reasons he has pulled out, there is only so much slating anyone can take and the judges are so arrogant on this show that they feel it is in their remit to be rude.  The show is all about entertainment and out of everyone on the show I believe JS entertained more than the others.  The other competitors seem to be doing it for themselves, JS I think was doing it to enjoy himself and entertain.

I didn't see the interview which you refer but they may have discussed it beforehand maybe she is like me, if she is crying and someone comforts her she is a million times more tearful :) 

I think John should have stuck it out but he really did make me cringe every time he stepped on the dance floor, although I do think he is a sweet and very clever guy.  I also think that, apart from all his other reasons, he had probably just had enough of the intensity of the training programme, it's a pretty tough regime for someone of his age and stature (2 stone weight loss says enough).  I will miss Kristina more, she is an absolutely fantastic dancer and her routines were beautifully engineered to make the best of John's limited ability.  She will of course take part in the professional dances. 

The thing I cannot believe is how much attention this has got in the media - m'thinks John has far too many influencial friends..... :)

well I heard on R4 today that the real reason hes pulled out is because he had never imagined he would get this far and so had actually booked a cruise....and he didnt want to miss the cruise!!!