'Strictly' chiefs 'fear voting boycott'

Strictly Come Dancing chiefs are reportedly concerned that fans may boycott the show's voting following John Sergeant's departure.

Producers are said to be expecting an audience boost tonight as Sergeant and his dance partner Kristina Rihanoff perform together for the final time.

However, the controversy surrounding Sergeant's exit has led to fears that angry fans may no longer support their favourite contestants by voting, according to the Daily Star.

An insider told the newspaper: "People are incredibly angry at the judges. To get their point across, they may refuse to pick up the phone."

Sergeant was backed in the public vote every week, despite receiving low marks from the panel. However, he decided to pull out of the programme this week, claiming that winning would be "a joke too far".