Thomas Skinner, the former Apprentice star and controversial signing for the new series of Strictly Come Dancing, stormed out of a press interview at BBC's Elstree Studios after grabbing a reporter's phone. The incident occurred during the show's press day, leaving organisers furious and BBC bosses reportedly in talks over his future on the programme.
According to an insider, Skinner arrived at the interview table alongside fellow contestant Jimmy Floyd Hasselbank but quickly became agitated when he noticed a female journalist recording the conversation on her phone. He demanded, 'What's that?' before picking up the device and taking it from the table. The journalist responded, 'What are you doing, can you answer the question, we have only got three minutes. I'm just recording him.'
The 34-year-old father of three then stood up and left the room, leaving Hasselbank to conduct interviews alone. An event insider described the reaction as 'out of the blue', noting that Skinner had been 'absolutely fine' during an earlier interview, appearing 'in good spirits and delighted and surprised to be there, like a competition winner'.
Skinner's behaviour came hours after he posted a cryptic message on X, formerly Twitter, stating: 'I cannot be bought. I won't say things just to keep people happy like others do... I'll say what I believe in, even when it's not easy.' He has faced criticism for previous posts on the platform, including remarks about London being 'hostile' and 'tense', and comments on national identity.
BBC director-general Tim Davie defended the decision to cast Skinner earlier that day, telling MPs that the production team sought individuals 'who want to do Strictly' and would be 'interesting to the audience'. He added that Skinner's views were not 'beyond the pale' or 'completely unacceptable'. However, the latest incident has prompted discussions among BBC bosses about whether he should remain on the show.
