Thomas Skinner, the first celebrity voted off this year's Strictly Come Dancing, has alleged that the BBC rigged the public vote to ensure his elimination. The 34-year-old businessman, known for his appearance on The Apprentice, claimed on social media that an anonymous email purportedly from a BBC executive showed he received far more votes than officially counted.
Skinner stated that the email also indicated the BBC was 'angry' and 'nervous' about his meeting with US Vice-President JD Vance, during which he wore a 'Make America Great Again' cap. He described himself as 'non-political' despite the right-wing alignment. The BBC has denied the allegations, with a spokesperson saying the vote is independently overseen and verified for accuracy each week.
PromoVeritas, the independent verifier of the Strictly vote, confirmed that all votes are validated by two auditors and that no issues have been reported. The BBC added that Skinner has not shared the alleged email with them, despite requests. Skinner claimed to have independently verified the email's authenticity, but the method remains unclear.
Skinner also alleged that his welcome gift was the only one stolen, but the BBC said no such gifts were supplied to any cast members. He will not attend Saturday's final, which sees Karen Carney, Amber Davies, and George Clarke competing for the trophy. Despite the controversy, Skinner is set to appear on Celebrity Apprentice on 29 and 30 December.
