Amy Dowden has expressed her disappointment that her former dance partner Thomas Skinner missed the Strictly Come Dancing final, calling it “gutted” he was not there for what she described as an “incredibly fun [and] exciting” night.
Skinner, the first celebrity eliminated from this year’s series, announced on social media hours before Saturday’s live show that he would not attend the final. He claimed to have proof the vote was rigged, an allegation the BBC has denied.
Speaking on Monday’s Lorraine, Dowden said she last spoke to Skinner on Thursday and he did not mention his plans. She added that her “mind was elsewhere” due to the recent death of her dance teacher, Phillip Perry, whom she called “like a second dad”.
“I was really upset on Thursday and still am,” Dowden said. “I lost somebody who was like a second dad to me – my dance teacher. He passed away on his wife's birthday.”
Despite the controversy, Dowden said she was “gutted” Skinner missed the final. Skinner had earlier posted that he spoke to Dowden to ensure she was okay with his absence, calling her “a good person and a good friend”.
Skinner’s time on Strictly was marked by several controversies, including an admission of infidelity shortly after his wedding and a walkout from a pre-series press event. He finished bottom of the leaderboard after week two and lost the dance-off to Chris Robshaw.
