JOHN Sergeant will be tripping the light fantastic for the last time tomorrow evening on Strictly Come Dancing and sending the judges wild - with relief.

For the former political correspondent has announced he and dance partner Kristina Rihanoff will leave the show because, he says, there is a serious danger he might win.

This is an appalling blow for democracy and light entertainment as it appears that Sergeant has been bullied out of the show by the po-faced professional judges who have displayed a total lack of appreciation of the national mood.

They don’t seem to realise that the millions who watch the show are not interested in polishing up their paso doble but want to see celebrities attempting (as Monty Python might have said) something completely different.

The great British public has not been voting for the best dancer but for their personal favourite, as they always do in these shows.

What planet do these judges come from when Len Goodman, who should thank his lucky stars Strictly came along when it did to release him from obscurity and provide him with a pleasant pension, says, “It’s made a mockery of the show.”

A mockery? It’s supposed to be fun, Len. Remember fun?

The gracious Arlene Phillips, meanwhile, overflowing with the warmth of human kindness has described Sergeant as “a dancing pig in Cuban heels”.

She added, “I would be desolate if he won.”

Why? It’s a laugh, love. When was the last time you had one?

The other two judges are so well known I can’t remember their names but all four have retreated into their own little sequinned world without realising the show isn’t about ballroom dancing - it’s about entertainment.

And they should be ashamed of themselves for pushing John Sergeant out.