5:52PM, Nov 21, 2008
It's been a big week for Strictly; John Sergeant's departure has caused a fan furore like never before, and may cost the beeb a small fortune.
Elsewhere, Tom Chambers has been sharing some saucy secrets.
Will The Sergeant Storm Never Cease?
We can't believe the furore over John Sergeant's decision to quit. 20,000 fans have complained; the Beeb are facing a £1m payout in vote refunds; even Tory leader David Cameron has been quoted as saying: "Strictly will not be the same without him".
But one government minister's call for the Strictly judges to be sacked takes the proverbial biscuit. Scottish secretary Jim Murphy told the BBC's Question Time: "The fact is the judges don't know what this programme is all about.
"It's family entertainment and good fun and John is emblematic of that, rather than taking himself so seriously. I think we need to get rid of the judges rather than John."
Talk about taking it too seriously.
The Strictly judges are being widely hailed as villains, but true to form, they are unrepentant about their scathing remarks. Craig thinks that John was lacking in the courage to continue, Len told the BBC that he felt it was the wrong decision, and even pro dancer James Jordan has stuck his oar in, saying John's departure was "the most selfish thing" he has ever seen on the show.
John insists that the decision to leave was his own, but his actions have vetoed the public's voting power. The point of Saturday entertainment is just that - and shouldn't we have the right to choose how we're entertained?
Perhaps he could no longer see the funny side of being humiliated week after week on national television. We don't blame him to be honest.
The man himself will be performing a farewell Waltz on Saturday night, let's just hope that Arlene and co are gracious enough to give him the send off he deserves.
Tom's Kinky Cape Action
Remember Tom Chambers' dramatic paso doble action with a gold cape a few weeks ago? Well, it turns out his new bride certainly hasn't forgotten the performance.
Reports have been circulating that the Holby hunk has been sneaking off set with a couple of costumes to spice up his love life.
The actor told More! magazine: "I love the cape, it scares me how much I enjoy it."
He went on to say that he's been making up for the lack of a honeymoon in other ways: "I just want to go home and have a few hours with Claire. We practise the paso doble and horizontal tango.
"I've learnt so many new moves and am feeling so much more energetic when I get home."
Tom's comments will certainly put his Tango this weekend in a new light (check out our sneak peek of him in training). It's enough to make us blush.
Lisa's Survival Secrets
Earlier this week Lisa Snowdon admitted she expected to be voted off after finding herself in the dance-off against Cheri Lunghi.
The former model revealed: "I was convinced we were going. And that's why I just danced my heart out, just because I thought: 'If we're going to go, we're going to go out with a bang, and I'm going to enjoy every second of this'.
"I didn't even really think about the fact that we were going to be scored again or judged again. That's what I did but it was a blow - I don't even know how I danced it."
Partner Brendan Cole added: "Did we step up a gear? I had tingles up and down my spine when I was dancing that last dance, and I haven't had that on Strictly for a while. But at the same time you are kicking somebody out, and I did feel very emotional afterwards."
Well, at least someone's realised that this competition should be about having fun.
John's departure has left just six couples vying for this year's Strictly Come Dancing crown, but the competition is getting tougher. Bookies SkyBet reckon that Jodie and Christine will be battling it out in the bottom two, but they've been wrong before.
Find out when Strictly Come Dancing is showing on TV.
