FORMER Strictly Come Dancing hopeful Mark Foster has been quick to step to the defence of political journalist John Sergeant, who quit the show yesterday.

Olympic swimming champion Foster, 38, who grew up in Southend, said he thought the judges had been way too harsh on the 64-year-old broadcaster, who was constantly lambasted for his lack of dancing finesse.

Foster told the Echo: “I wish John would have carried on, but I totally understand why he felt the need to go after the way the judges have treated him. They wanted him out and that’s what they’ve got. The bottom line is this is a BBC entertainment show, not BBC sport."

FULL STORY IN THURSDAY'S ECHO