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Craig Revel Horwood has claimed that John Sergeant misled the public over his exit from Strictly Come Dancing.
Sergeant pulled out of the BBC ballroom competition last month, explaining that he feared he would have won the show over a more talented dancer.
However, speaking to the Daily Mail, show judge Horwood insisted: "He left because he was full of fear at the prospect of having to do a disco routine, jive and salsa on the next show.
"His professional dancing partner, Kristina Rihanoff, has said he left because the judges drove him out. But she's saying this because he was her pupil. She would say that to protect him. It's a shame Kristina couldn't teach him to be less cowardly.
"Basically, John couldn't stand the pressure and he found a loophole by saying he was leaving to give the other contestants a chance. That way he could give up and come out smelling of roses."
Horwood also responded to rumours that he could be axed along with Arlene Phillips after being blamed for Sergeant's departure.
"If Arlene and I were sacked and the remaining judges, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli, weren't allowed to criticise professionally, then what would be left?" he asked.
"Len and Bruno behaving like performing monkeys, Bruce Forsyth tap dancing and singing, the celebrities doing whatever they liked. Then they could re-name it Strictly Live At The London Palladium. It certainly wouldn't be Strictly Come Dancing any more."
