Castle: 'Strictly' will be "worse off"

Andrew Castle has said that Strictly Come Dancing will suffer after John Sergeant's departure, adding that he leaves the show with his "flag flying high".

The political expert withdrew from the BBC contest yesterday amid fears that his soaring popularity might see him triumph over better dancers.

Castle, who was voted off the show earlier this month, told Radio 5 Live that some people were taking the programme too seriously.

"He leaves the programme undefeated, his flag flying high, and the programme will be worse off for it because at end of the day, it's an entertainment show and some people have failed in a spectacular fashion to see that," he said.

Show host Bruce Forsyth said he was shocked by Sergeant's decision, while judge Len Goodman said he thought it was the wrong choice.

However, fellow judge Craig Revel Horwood said the 64-year-old lacked courage for leaving the show, while professional dancer James Jordan said he believed it was a "selfish" act.