Rihanoff: John was savaged on 'Strictly'

John Sergeant was "savaged" by the judges on Strictly Come Dancing, dance partner Kristina Rihanoff has said.

The political journalist quit the show last week amid fears that his popularity with the public could see him win the competition despite receiving poor marks from the panel.

"Some judges' remarks crossed the line of taste and respect and they became harder for him to take. Yet it was because the judges were so mean that the public kept us in," Rihanoff told the News Of The World.

"John was like a lamb led to the slaughter. They just let him be savaged. In the end we felt like we were caught in a war zone between the judges and the public."

Rihanoff and Sergeant performed a farewell Waltz on Saturday's show, after which they received a standing ovation from the studio audience.