Strictly Come Dancing star Tom Skinner has launched an explosive rant against the show's producers, branding the latest elimination a 'total fix' after he and professional partner Amy Dowden were sent home in a controversial dance-off.
The former footballer and TV personality didn't hold back in a fiery Instagram Live session, revealing the moment he knew the competition was 'rigged' against them. Skinner's frustration boiled over as he described the 'rubbish' scoring that saw them face Fleur East and Vito Coppola in the dreaded dance-off.
'We Were Doomed From The Start'
Skinner revealed the crushing moment he and Amy realised their fate was sealed. 'We looked at each other and went, ''Well, we're f****d here'',' he confessed to his followers. The sheer presence of Fleur and Vito in the bottom two confirmed his suspicions that the show was engineered for drama.
'It's a fix, the whole thing is a fix!' he declared, suggesting producers had anticipated the shocking showdown. 'They must have been rubbing their hands together thinking, ''This is going to be great TV.''
A Controversial Judges' Decision
The judges' unanimous decision to save Fleur and Vito only added fuel to the fire. Despite acknowledging it was Amy's best performance since her courageous return from cancer treatment, the panel opted to send the couple home.
Skinner's outrage was palpable: 'We were proper, proper gutted... We were so proud of that dance.' His emotional outburst highlights the intense pressure and disappointment contestants face when their Strictly journey ends abruptly.
Support From Strictly Cohorts
Fellow contestants quickly rallied around the eliminated pair. Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell were among the first to offer comfort, with Brazier reportedly 'crying his eyes out' backstage.
Despite his anger, Skinner showed grace in defeat, praising Fleur as 'one of the best dancers in the competition' and acknowledging she deserved to stay. Yet his comments have sparked serious questions about the authenticity of reality TV competitions and whether drama sometimes trumps fairness.
The BBC now faces awkward questions about the integrity of its flagship entertainment show as viewers digest Skinner's explosive claims.
