Sergeant was 'loathed' on 'Strictly'

John Sergeant quit Strictly Come Dancing after discovering that his co-stars "loathed" him, a report claims today.

The former political journalist decided to pull out of the BBC One ballroom competition earlier this week, claiming that the possibility of him winning the show was "a joke too far".

Sergeant and his dance partner Kristina Rihanoff were backed in the public vote every week, despite repeatedly receiving low marks from the judges.

An insider told the Daily Mail: "John knew he had to walk out before he was completely destroyed. He has put a brave face on it but he has been made aware of just how loathed he has become on the show.

"In public, everyone on Strictly makes out how much they love him, but in reality you are dealing with some very fragile egos. They are jealous of him because he has managed effortlessly to win over the public. Some people on the show can't forgive him for that."

Tension on the programme is said to have reached boiling point after Cherie Lunghi was voted off in a shock result last weekend.

"Naturally, Cherie was devastated to be knocked out, but some of the professionals seemed to take up her cause personally and were distinctly chilly around John after the show," the source added. "I think that was the point when John decided enough was enough."