BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing and ITV1's X Factor both saw shock results this weekend, sparking anger among viewers and outbursts from the all-star panels.

Simon Cowell said it was a "joke" that he and the other X Factor judges were forced to choose between Laura White or Ruth Lorenzo, who finished bottom of the public vote despite their strong performances. Viewers instead opted to keep Daniel Evans, a 38-year-old pool cleaner who has been compared to a pub singer.

John Sergeant's continued popularity with the voting public has also baffled the Strictly Come Dancing judges. The veteran BBC journalist is among the worst competitors in the show's history but his lumbering performances have won over an army of fans, keeping him on at the expense of more gifted dancers.

Sergeant scored just 12 out of 40 on Sunday's show, but it was pop stars Heather Small and Rachel Stevens - who scored 27 and 35 respectively - who were voted for eviction. Small lost out in the dance-off, becoming the seventh celebrity to leave the programme.

Judge Len Goodman said that Sergeant's success "made a nonsense of the show", while fellow panellist Arlene Phillips pleaded with the public not to vote Sergeant into the final.

"We're judging on the ability of dance," she said. "It's very well that people fall in love with a man, but what his feet are doing isn't a foxtrot."

Cheryl Cole, the X Factor judge, said that neither White, who left the show, nor Lorenzo should have been voted off.

"The public has not been voting on talent, and that became clear tonight," she said on Saturday's show. "I'm stunned both these girls were in the bottom two this week."

Fans expressed their anger on internet message boards, one writing: "Tonight's result is absolutely disgusting. The programme no longer has any credibility."

Strictly Come Dancing in the most watched television programme in the world today, according to new figures.

The show, which sees celebrities take to the floor alongside professional dancers, has emerged as an unlikely hit across the globe with the BBC selling the format to 38 countries.

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The X Factor result was the worst I've seen in 4 years of watching the programme, Laura could have been the eventual winner or at the least, in the final.

It proves that public voting makes a mockery of the show when the talented get voted off.

As for Strictly Come Dancing, NO COMMENT.

Maybe the judges should have a higher percentage of `say` in their votes?

Instead of 50% to them, and 50% to the voting public, make it, say 60% to the judges, 40% to the public vote.

That way it might bring a bit of sanity back to the proceedings.

Fans furious as John Sergeant quits Strictly Come Dancing

THE BBC faced a backlash from viewers this evening after being accused of forcing John Sergeant to quit Strictly Come Dancing.

In a major new embarrassment, the corporation's switchboard was flooded with complaints over Sergeant's departure.

One MP warned it would be a “complete disgrace” if the former political correspondent had been “elbowed out” by BBC bosses because his ungainly style had threatened to turn the show into a joke.

There were even calls for viewers to boycott the programme while Business Secretary Lord Mandelson issued a statement urging him not to quit, saying: “John Sergeant should not bow out. He has become the people's John Travolta.”

At a hastily arranged press conference at BBC Television Centre, Sergeant was grilled by Newsnight heavyweight Jeremy Paxman over the reasons for his departure.

Sergeant, 64, sitting alongside his dancing partner Kristina Rihanoff, BBC1 controller Jay Hunt and entertainments commissioner Elaine Bedell, defended his decision.

Seemingly bemused by the lines of reporters gathered, he said: “It is quite absurd that I should be in this position having a news conference.

“The reasons for leaving; well it is like, when do you leave a party? You leave before the fighting starts and I think that is what has happened on this occasion.

“We had fun dancing and dancing is a wonderfully enjoyable thing, but if the joke wears thin, if people begin to take things very seriously and if people are getting so wound up that is very difficult to carry on the joke, then it is time to go.”

He said he had chosen to step down after fearing he might actually win. He said: “The trouble is that there is now a real danger that I might win the competition. Even for me that would be a joke too far.”

During the press conference, Ms Hunt announced that anyone who voted for Sergeant and wanted to be reimbursed, would be.

Sergeant, one of the worst dancers in the show's history, had managed to survive each week thanks to a huge vote from the public. His relationship with judges Arlene Phillips, Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horwood and Len Goodman worsened each week he was kept in.

Phillips branded him a “dancing pig in Cuban heels” and accused him of “reading The Guardian and fooling around” when he should be practising. Asked if she felt responsible for his departure, she said: “Not really. We've actually been quite nice.”

But his decision to go has sparked a huge row with conspiracy theorists convinced he was forced out by the corporation, embarrassed by his success, or even by the judges.

An online backlash began almost immediately by some of the 1,469 members of Facebook group “John Sergeant to win Strictly Come Dancing 2008”.

Garry Needham of Sheffield wrote: “Far as I'm
concerned the programme's over.” Heidi Thomas McGann wrote: “I'm appalled. He has been bullied
and hounded into this.”

Posting on one online forum, Mary Auld of Southport said: “Everybody should boycott the show. How wrong that John has to leave the show, it should be taken off television. I will not watch it again. I never thought John could dance. So what? People still voted for him.”

Tory MP Nigel Evans, who sits on the powerful Commons culture committee, said: “I can't see what the logical reason is for John to go. I hope there is not a smoking gun in any of the top executives' hands on this.

“John Sergeant was hugely popular and any attempt to elbow him out would be a complete disgrace.”

The row follows the suspension of Jonathan Ross and the sacking of a senior BBC executive for foul-mouthed phone calls to Andrew Sachs, which were broadcast on Russell Brand's Radio 2 show. Brand subsequently quit the BBC.

Sergeant himself insisted he had not been forced out. He said: “We thought about dancing to Murder on the Dancefloor this weekend.

“It would have ended with me firing imaginary bullets at the judges. That would amuse some people including me, but some people would think, Oh no here we go it's John Sergeant' moaning again. It's not what I'm about or what I joined the show to do. That is the reason behind it.

“I might have won it which is a frightening thought, a terrifying thought for millions of people across the country. It would have been a bitter sweet victory if we would have won this competition.

“This is a contest I may have won but it would have been a bruising battle week after a week and I didn't think I could take that.”

Sergeant's dancing partner condemned the judges for personally attacking him. She said: “They can talk about his dancing, as it is a dance contest. But their comments are becoming personal. Why do
they have to talk about his age?”

One theory even went as far as to suggest the judges might have even ordered his removal or else they would refuse to carry on.

On Saturday night, the pair jokingly attempted to walk off after performing their dance without listening to the verdict of the four judges.

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