SOUTH Essex Strictly Come Dancing hopeful Mark Foster says he is “gutted” to have been voted off the hit BBC TV show – and he’s not the only one.

Hordes of female fans of the 38-year-old former Southend High School for Boys pupil have flooded the Olympic swimmer’s website with messages of support since his ejection from the show.

He said: “It’s really flattering to get all this attention. I don’t read websites much, but It’s very lovely to have nice messages of support.

“A lot of people have been coming up to me in the street for autographs over the past few weeks. It’s weird. People seem to know me as a dancer rather than a swimmer.”

Mark’s appearances on the show have even spawned Mark Foster appreciation pages on social networking websites, where the revealing outfits he wore on the show are often mentioned He added: “I’m gutted to have left, but at the end of the day, I didn’t even expect to make it past the first few weeks.

“I was starting from scratch, I really couldn’t dance a step before the show and that did put me at a bit of a disadvantage as many of the other contestants had dance experience.”

Mark says he holds no grudge against the judges, who were less than flattering about his unsuccessful paso doble routine with partner Hayley Holt. Mark said: “Sometimes, I think they lay it on thick so the public will feel sorry for you and vote for you.”

Mark says the thing he’ll miss most are the off-air get-togethers with the other dancers.

He said: “I especially got on with Jodie Kidd, Lisa Snowdon and Andrew Castle.

“It was weird being up against Andrew in the dance-off. We’d joked we wouldn't mind being in the dance-off as long as it wasn’t against each other, as we were such good friends.”

So who does Mark fancy to win?

“If I had to pick someone for just talent, I’d say Tom Chambers has a chance,” he said.

While Mark says he has no plans to give up competitive swimming just yet, he is hoping the show may open doors for him in TV presenting.

He said: “If I could pick my dream job, it would be working for a travel show. Perhaps I could swim in every ocean, or something.”

He is also planning to go into business with his good friend, hurdler Colin Jackson.

“We’re working on something to do with health and fitness. It’s something I feel really passionate about.

“Getting people to be fitter and healthier – especially youngsters – is something I’d like to play a part in.”