Thomas Skinner has spoken out about his absence from the Strictly Come Dancing final and the controversy surrounding his early exit. Appearing on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday, the former Apprentice star addressed claims of a rigged public vote and revealed he had legal discussions with the BBC.
Skinner, who was paired with professional dancer Amy Dowden, became the first contestant eliminated from the 2025 series. Following his departure, online speculation suggested the vote had been manipulated. However, a BBC statement read out on the show confirmed: '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.'
Explaining why he did not attend the final, Skinner said he wanted to avoid further negative press for his family. 'I thought, I've had all this bad press, I've been front page every time I've been on the show, I didn't want to take away from everyone else,' he said. 'I didn't want my wife to think, 'Oh, there's another story about us now.' It wasn't fair.'
Skinner also confirmed he had spoken to the BBC about legal advice after receiving an anonymous email. 'They said 'You've been sent something you shouldn't have been sent, it is what it is. We think you should get some legal advice.' That was the chat with the BBC,' he said. Despite this, he insisted he has 'no rows' with the broadcaster and is planning future collaborations.
The businessman described the intense media scrutiny he faced during his time on the show, including journalists following his wife and offering money for stories. 'It was stupid, there were journalists outside my house following my wife back from Sainsbury's,' he said. 'I saw my wife getting upset, and that's what hurt me more than anything.'
Skinner added that he has since become close friends with Amy Dowden and plans to play golf with Strictly pro Kai Widdrington.
