And maybe deciding what to pack for his upcoming Panama cruise!

Sorry but for goodness sakes this whole thing is being taken as seriously as the PM resigning or the Queen abdicating!

He;s a savvy media hound who managed to get an entire days press for himself with this and portray himself how he wanted- and I don't blame him but I don't fall for the Saint John slays the big bad bullies either.

For those who didn't see it he said he got on well with the judges backstage just as an aside.

You are right, the pressure of being in a war zone can't compare to being told your samba is bad

John was left with no choice other than to walk away and, as for James Jordan's comment on 'It Takes Two' this evening, I have gone right off him. He has a nasty touch of sour grapes for having been voted off last Saturday and he also made a snide comment that evening too.

John did the gentlemanly thing - he was bullied into making this decision and I wish him and Kristina all the best for the future.

Even though I never voted for John, I still found him to be good entertainment. He always brought a smile to my face anyway.

I really think that's why it was so easy for him to leave. He liked being with Kristina, performing and being funny...but the dancing thing didn't really get into his blood, unlike everyone else, who at this stage are still enjoying it but also seriously focussed and don't want to go.

Don't talk rubbish. A man of John's stature does not need publicity, certainly not of this nature.

I wish he had stayed but I respect his integrity. He wasn't sulking or blubbing. He didn't "storm off", he made a considered decision.

He was put in a terribly difficult position, far worse than Kate or Julian or Christopher ever were.

What gets me is the damage limitation now going on - James Jordan, the judges, etc, backtracking and trying to blame John. Looks like some people are falling for it too.

If you believe this about John, you haven't a clue how to read people.
John as I'm sure all the celebs enter the competition for their own enjoyment. I'm sure he never in a million years thought his presence in the competition would generate such animosity towards himself. As he stated tonight if he remained he would no longer be able to find it an enjoyable experience with all the hostility directed at him. So as a decent, honest , sensitive man he felt the way to end all this ridiculous, stupid hype surrounding his stay in the competition was to leave.

Demands for him to quit flood the boards - and when he does just that it's a publicity seeking flounce.

He explains his position with dignity and is accused of sulking.

Please John haters - tell us just what you want from him?

I have detested his appearance on the show ever since he made the comment "I know the public will save us". It was a smug, arrogant comment made by a man who began to believe that this series was all about him and by walking now he has tried to ensure that it will be.

Good riddance to him!!!!!!!!!

I have said this in similar threads and I copy and paste here:

I recalled in ITT earlier in the series the pros and celebs were asked who they think would win Strictly.

I recalled Tom and Jodie picked Cherie, based on dance merit.

I recalled James picked Andrew, and the reason, he gave, was Andrew was dancing with his wife (huh?) and GMTV celebs always do well and go far in the competition.

Now if we take that into consideration, surely James IS contradicting himself asking people to vote for better dancers when he said such a thing?

I would have been less surprised if he said he thought Cherie would win, but he specifically picked Andrew, and I am sure he already knew from watching his cha-cha and the boy's group dance that Andrew is nowhere near the dance ability of Austin and Tom?!?!

When John stands in front of the judges on a saturday night, they have their chance to insult John to his face all they like - as he said himself, he knew harsh comments during the judges critique were part and parcel of the show.

But honestly Aleksis it beggar's belief that you and too, too many others can claim it isn't a personal insult to John when the judges (& James) publically criticise the public for voting for him.

Whats more, it insults the public too. And that isnt on, especially as John was far from being the worse dancer on last weekends show. Thankfully, a lot of us arent too precious to admit it

Some people are never satisfied.

There have been posts on here demanding he step down, now he has, that is wrong as well.

Make up your mind, because it is you who are actually killing the show not John.

John has improved, but he was the worst dancer last Saturday. I agreed with the positions of the leaderboard.

except that the press conference and appearances on tv have only added to the hype

Did he arrange them?

he's a media expert, surely he must be clueless about the effect of releasing such a statement

People have been screaming for his resignation - they have whipped up the frenzy. He gives them what they want and still they accuse him of seeking attention.

Had he resigned and given no explanation, do you really think he would have been left alone? Do you think for one minute that the media would not have demanded comment and clarification.

Give it a rest - those who wanted him out have got their own way - be happy with your hollow victory.

LOL! I thought the 'i know the public will save us' quote was very tongue in cheek...I can't really believe anyone took it seriously!

I absolutely agree Ignazio!

No, it's the stupid people who have voted for John, not for entertainment value, but to spite the show and the judges who have killed the show.

The judges have been no more vehement in their critique of John than they have of other less able dancers but John's 'cuddliness, innocence' factor has got people up in arms that they dare 'bully' such a sweet old man.

Had he got to the final/won SCD then it would (IMO) have been the death knell of the program because who would sign up, knowing that no matter how hard they danced or trained, their fate was in the hands of an underdog loving public

Hi guys

Erm, two things which are going to be CONTROVERSIAL so please don't hate me

I kinda agree with what James said about John wanting to make this series all about him

And I thought John was horrible telling Claudia Kristina was fine when she desperately needed a cuddle

Sorry guys

What about Christopher Parker though who got to the final despite being pretty rubbish? The show has continued just as successfully (if not more so) since then!

Well God forfend that we put our money where our mouths are.

I didn't want John out, but voted out if he's bad in his dancing, and not out by him quitting.

I can see how he chose to quit. It's not fun for him anymore. But I think there are a lot of disappointed fans out there who genuinely support him. But there are those who will be livid because perhaps they've bet on him, they wanted to see car-crash tv and continuously want to keep him in to humiliate him (I had the hunch he felt that way, and tonight's ITT he confirms it himself).

He did what he thought was right. I don't agree quitting is the best solution personally.

The BBC arranged the press conference. John was asked to go along with it, and he did. Do you really think they would allow him to take of BBC television centre by himself?

It's not ideal - but why stay to be pilloried every week just to satisfy the rubber neckers?