On every News headline

Special edition of it takes two

And a final dance on Saturday (why?) where we can all worship his magnanimous decision

A man who works in political media knows how to manipulate it no doubt

Is there a vomit smilie?

What a sly old devil

he's arranging all these appearances himself is he?

Think about it.... please do.

pathetic post

No, he had no idea of the furore it would cause I am sure, having been a journalist for 40 years and working for the BBC and knowing everyone working on the news

Absolutely .

Truth Hurts

He is a grown man on a dance show FFS

No he was a grown man on a light enternainment show about celebs who can't dance being taught to dance and then judged.

He was a grown man that entered the show to entertain and see if he could learn to dance.

He practised more often than most of the others, he just didn't have the aptitude for dance, but the public liked his performances and his spirit so they voted for him to stay.

He thought it was amusing and entertaining.....then the judges spat their dummies....but he carried on because the public obviously liked to watch him.

Then the fact of him staying every week became a big joke, a bigger joke than he and his partner actually intended.

At this point some of the professional dancers started spitting their dummies *cough* James Jordan, and the atmosphere behind scenes obviously changed and the joke became very unfunny.

For the past two weeks judges and some of the other dancers, have banged on about the need to vote him out......but the public ignored them...so John decided enough was enough, he didn't want to stay when the joke has obviously fallen very flat for some, and animosity is starting to creep in.

So he leaves....and now....

He's wrong to have done so, he's being selfish and egotistical....these accusations are from the exact same people that last week were virtually begging us to vote him off....

Fantastic post.

Ridiculous, he created the joke himself as a means of staying on

This is a man who has risen to the top of one of the most hardbitten professions in the world and you believe he is traumatised by SCD

Another one on the hook, will you be buying his autobiography no doubt coming out soon

I bet you have some cracking conspiracy theories on alien landings as well...

What I really can't understand is how anyone can suggest that John should have had more courage and continued with the competition.

True, he would have faced increasing hostility and animosity from his fellow participants and the judges, and continued press coverage, but its nothing new given what he's already been facing over the last few weeks.

I think it took more courage to stand up to Craig a few weeks ago, then quit the show, knowing that he would face more mudslinging from people falling over themselves to condradict themselves.

Actually many of the people who wanted John out and who are now still saying he's arrogant and egotistical were saying that it was his own fault for remaining in the competition, and that he should walk!!

But dancing on any show with James Jordan on it is enough to send anyone over the edge

*applauds*

Poor John. Damned if he stayed and damned if he went. I respect his decision and understand why he made it but it is very sad.

I don't think he expected to stay past week four to be honest. I also think that the public waive of voting surprised him as much as everyone else.

I don't believe he's traumatised, nor did I say as much thank you.

I think he made a decision based on what he thought best for himself and why shouldn't he?

I'm not on any hook....and I don't buy books....I borrow them...

No but I have one about bears shitting in woods

John's savvy enough about the media to know that there are firestorms that burn briefly and firestorms that rage out of control. I understand what he says about it getting too heavy - too many people were getting too upset and it was spiralling out of all proportion. The tipping point was reached - he's done the right thing but I'll miss him.

I think that in effect John has called his detractors' bluff and they do not like it at all.

But I do not think that was his primary intention - for God's sake it was clearly giving him the heebie-jeebies, and he said himself it woke him at 3am - that is a sign of real anxiety - so why should he carry on with something which was becoming joyless and bad for his health.

He's not a sly old devil at all - he's a lovely self-effacing bloke.

agree with every word!

He's already written it - "Give Me Ten Seconds."

Light fuse. Light blue touchpaper. Stand well back. Enjoy spectacular effects.

If you really think John dictates the contents of the programme, you're even more blinkered than I thought.

And it was published in 2001, so I don't think he has anything to prove. It's a damned good read too.