The legal threat made by former The Apprentice star Thomas Skinner against the BBC, in which he alleged the Strictly Come Dancing vote was rigged to force his exit, appears to have been seriously undermined by new figures.
Poll Numbers Paint Damning Picture
Skinner, 34, had claimed he received an anonymous email from a purported BBC executive stating he had received "far more votes than it appeared" on the night he was eliminated. He said he had the email independently verified and was advised by the BBC's own welfare team to seek legal counsel.
However, an exit poll conducted by the website Strictly Spoiler presents a starkly different narrative. The poll, which surveyed 125,000 viewers—a sample size larger than a general election exit poll—indicates Skinner was the least popular contestant by a significant margin.
The data suggests he attracted just 1,805 votes, equating to a mere 1.4% of the public vote. A source close to the show stated: "The poll comprehensively shows that Skinner was the least popular contestant by a long way. There is no conspiracy. These are the cold, hard facts."
BBC Stands Firm as Skinner Parts with Agents
The BBC has consistently refused to release the official voting figures, which are overseen by the independent verification company PromoVeritas. A Corporation spokesperson reiterated: "Strictly Come Dancing’s public vote is independently overseen and verified to ensure complete accuracy every week. Any claims to the contrary are entirely without foundation."
PromoVeritas also confirmed its rigorous process, stating: "All votes are independently and comprehensively verified by two auditors. We can confirm that all votes received are validated."
Amid the escalating row, it has emerged that Skinner has parted ways with his agents, Firm Insanity, within the last 24 hours. The agency, which also represents Sam Thompson and Martin Kemp, informed the reality TV star on Saturday, though Skinner initially insisted to the Mirror he was still represented by them.
Political Meetings and Coincidental Resignations
Skinner had further claimed the anonymous email suggested the BBC was "angry and nervous" about his participation because he had met with US Vice President J.D. Vance. He denied being political, stating: "I’m not a political bloke. Never have been. I just love my country and am patriotic."
He also pointed to what he called "coincidental" high-profile departures from the BBC following his elimination, noting that a "very senior BBC figure" had resigned and main hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly announced they were stepping down. He clarified he was not claiming a direct link but found the timing "bizarre".
BBC insiders express feeling "deeply let down" by Skinner's claims, given the support he was afforded during his time on the show, which included navigating personal controversies. The star had previously admitted to an affair in 2022 and faced reports over an unpaid £50,000 Covid business loan.
When presented with the low polling figures, Skinner told the Mirror: "I know for a fact that the information you have is not accurate." He declined to reveal how he verified the anonymous email, adding the matter no longer "materially" concerned him and he was "not looking to contest this publicly."
In a social media statement, he sought to de-escalate, saying: "I want to be clear: I don’t hate the BBC…I’m not looking for conflict. I just want to get on with my life." The BBC confirms it has yet to receive any formal legal letters from Skinner regarding the matter.
