Former The Apprentice star Tom Skinner has issued a lengthy statement on social media, hitting back at claims surrounding his early exit from Strictly Come Dancing 2025. Skinner, who was eliminated after the first live show, alleged that he received an anonymous email suggesting his vote count was higher than publicly shown. He also claimed his welcome gift was stolen, but the BBC has denied both allegations.
The BBC responded by stating that the public vote is independently overseen and verified, and that any claims to the contrary are 'entirely without foundation'. A spokesperson added that the production team did not supply welcome gifts to any cast members. The BBC also noted that Skinner has not shared the email with them despite requests.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Skinner said: 'I don't hate the BBC – they gave me my big break on The Apprentice. I had discussions with my representatives which I believed to be private and confidential. I was obviously gutted when I received the email on the evening I left the show.' He added that the BBC advised him to seek legal advice.
Independent vote verifier PromoVeritas confirmed that all votes are validated by two auditors every week. The BBC also stated they are not aware of any legal complaint from Skinner regarding the matter.
