John Sergeant paid back advance for 'boring' book

Strictly Come Dancing favourite John Sergeant has revealed that he paid back tens of thousands of pounds to his publisher.

In an interview with Radio Times, the former ITN political editor explained that he repaid his advance for another volume of memoirs because he feared the third instalment would be 'boring'.

Sergeant, whose previous books include Give Me Ten Seconds, said he wanted to write about a subject that interested him, such as the history of the police, after his two-book deal with Macmillan ended but the publisher only wanted another memoir.

'You can't go on writing the same book, for Christ's sake. Not only is it boring, it's a terrific strain, too,' he told the magazine.

'So I paid back the advance - a vast amount of money - and then I felt incredibly free.'

The 60-year-old also said that he believes his career is strengthening as he ages, pointing out that he will soon return to the small screen in ITV series John Sergeant On The Tourist Trail.

In November last year, Sergeant quit Strictly Come Dancing after receiving heavy criticism from the talent show's judges despite having become a firm favourite with fans.