Heartbroken Kristina Rihanoff tells how the judges’ “cheap, derogatory” comments week after week drove the political journalist to DESPAIR until he was “broken by cruelty”.


“John was like a lamb led to the slaughter,” stormed the furious 31-year-old Siberian beauty

“The BBC pestered him for three years to take part in the show until he felt he couldn’t back out because he worked for them. He told me he hadn’t the guts to say no again.


“But they just let him be savaged. "

She SLAMS judge Arlene Phillips for being the worst of his tormentors.

“I don’t know why Arlene was so critical when she is the same age as him. She should have stuck to constructive criticism and not belittled him.”


“At first the judges would apologise behind the scenes and John would make a joke like ‘don’t worry, I know where you live.’


“But on Tuesday something had changed. John was sad. He was no longer smiling and joking

On Wednesday morning, she got a message from him at her London flat saying: “I need to talk to you.” Her heart sank.


“I knew it wasn’t going to be good when I called him. He told me he wanted out of the show. He said, ‘I can’t take it any more—I am going to leave. There is no fun any more in all of this."

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/show...peaks-out.html

no words

Very sad indeed. Of course Kristina could speak out whereas John couldn't.
We all knew though.

I hope Kristina will be with us next year for SCD - but will she want to? However we may have some new judges then.

Their last dance this evening was the best I have ever seen John dance and it was so moving to watch.

Well done.

My opinion of Kristina has just gone sharply down.

Cashing in on this is bad enough, but the News of the World?!?

Kristina did a brilliant job and I really feel for her - caught up in this mess.
If SCD6 were the first SCD, I would not be hooked.

Tonight the bickering was worse than ever. That is NOT why I watch scd.

I am very sad about the developments and I applaud Kristina for remaining above it.
She has inspired many people to give it a go and dance.

I hope she is back next year and I wish John all the best. He finally dropped his public persona and reached out to her on the show tonight and I was moved by their partnership.

She probably won't be now - after speaking to the News of the World. The BBC treated Nicole Cutler dreadfully after she was stitched up by the News of the World so they will probably do the same to Kristina.

It could all be a lie, you know?

Didn't Kristina deny a former interview supposedly made by herself to a newspaper?

I don't believe for a moment that savvy political journalist John felt he couldn't say 'no' if he didn't want to take part. He hardly seems like the sort who'd meekly do something he didn't want to.

She's 31?

What do you mean?

Well said. Considering it's the NOTW it comes across very strongly as a loyal friend defending JS. Expect she now won't be invited back, next series. Our loss, especially as in those pix she seems to be morphing into a blonde Shirley Maclaine!!

Hmm it's hardly a kiss n tell though is it? She comes across very well - especially given the usual sort of stories the NOTW runs...

Clearly that's true - even if you didn't "like" JS, the judges' comments were offensive, and had a causal effect on the voting figures.

That strikes me as being what SCD is all about. Or used to be.

Obviously many people agree with her assessment - and the BBC News tonight was kind of suggesting the same thing in their coverage.

Well - straight from the horses mouth so to speak. Many of the so called 'real fans' of strictly have been denying what went on & attempting to vilify John attributing him with all sorts of motives for withdrawing from the show. It was obvious listening to him on ITT that total perspective had been lost by judges & some professionals. As for Kristina not being allowed back - have you thought that she may not be want to go back into the show. She clearly has total respect for John & defending him is perhaps more important to her than bothering about her own position on the show next year.

Any excuse er :yawn: :sleep:

I think she'd like to stay, after all it's raised her profile - though perhaps she can speak out as she's been offered something better.

After the people power that kept John in for so long, it'd be nice to think we could use the same tactics to insist Kristina stays in the next series(ie refuse to phone in etc).

The hypocrisy is that Veri is always at pains to point out that he does not believe what's written in the papers

I don't see why talking to the press will necessarily preclude Kristina from being asked back next year - it didn't seem to affect Vincent and Flavia who are still actively involved and even favoured.

I'll believe it when I hear it from her mouth.

I like the way there's a clip labelled "Cherie Lunghi's sex scene" on the same web-page. Classy.

Ah but if she is seen to be criticising the show or one/or more of the judges that would be a different matter as with Nicole...whether or not she has actually given the interview.


Personally I truely hope she will be back next year

Whats the problem with talking to the press? or is everyone who does damned ? as said previously - hardly a kiss n tell!
I'm glad she's not 'gagged '....as I expect John is. Or if she is -she obviously feels strongly about the way it all turned out and wants people to know. What's wrong with that?

Hear, Hear!!! Best post I've read on this subject anywhere. I've read posts saying he was 'manipulating' the show, and all sorts of nonsense. Why on earth would he want to manipulate a dance show? For what purpose?

The producers know exactly what they are doing when they invite an overweight 64 year old man onto a show. A man who has led a sedentary lifestyle and has never danced a step in his life. They know from the outset he doesn't have a hope, but we can all have a laugh at his expense for the first few weeks and then vote him out as and when the judges tell us to, so the floor is cleared for the real 'contenders'. Only this time the public weren't playing ball. They wanted him in, and how the toys got hurled out the prams by all and sundry when the people picking up the phones wouldn't obey instructions. By the judges, the professionals and by other competitors I don't doubt for a second.

They made it impossible for him to remain and it was clear how upset and distressed Kristina was by what had gone on. For once I applaud someone speaking to the NOTW. What she says confirms what a lot of us already suspected. Both she and John have emerged from this with great dignity but as for the likes of Craig and Arlene, James Jordan and others - they should be ashamed of themselves. John's line about the judges tonight was superb!

In normal circumstances it would probably cost her, her place on next year's show, but I honestly don't think they'd dare.

Who says I believe what's written in this paper?

Great post bigbruddah!
I heartily agree!

I for one have lost interest now. The whole thing has left a sour taste and I expect their ratings will plummet now. Serves them right!

How come EVERYBODY ELSE can comment all week on different shows, papers and magazines and as soon as Kristina (who has said nothing about it all week ) does she gets a load of grief.

She has more right to talk to the press than Anton who did god knows how many shows this week.

At least its not a sex story (James and Ola)