Martin Bell was in tune with Strictly Come Dancing judges

Tatton’s former MP said he had appealed to the ex-political journalist to ‘cash in his chips’ and ‘leave the genuine dancers to get on with it’.

Within hours of Mr Bell posting his persiflage on a website, John Sergeant had announced he was bowing out of the competition with Russian partner Kristina Rihanoff.

On Thursday Mr Bell, now 70, said he had done the right thing.

“He contributed greatly to the gaiety of the nation,” he said. “But I feared for Kristina's safety.”

Mr Bell said John Sergeant had played the part of Old Bloke to perfection - a part that he too had been offered.

“The cast of characters is carefully balanced and always includes an old bloke,” he said.

“I would undoubtedly have been the first man out but John’s performance was a triumph of charm over skill if ever there was one.”

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The 64-year-old’s performances had been panned week after week but despite the judges’ scathing remarks - Arlene Phillips described him as a non-dancing Mickey Rooney - the viewers voted to save him.

But on Wednesday he announced he was pulling out of the competition because winning would have been ‘a joke too far’. Last week Vicky Frost, also writing on a website, blamed Mr Bell.

“Sensible, serious advice maybe,” she said. “But that whole lack of being seriousness was why Sergeant was loved.

“Even before Strictly kicked off we knew that he would be unlikely winner, although Kristina did somehow manage to keep a straight face when saying that honestly, he was a great dancer.” Mr Bell had questioned whether any of it mattered, saying, after all, it was only entertainment and reality TV with added glitz.

But he said actually it did matter to those who believed it should be a dance contest rather than a test of popularity. “It certainly matters to John,” he said.