Former The Apprentice contestant Thomas Skinner has issued a defiant new statement, hitting back at critics attempting to 'cancel' him following his dramatic exit from Strictly Come Dancing 2025 and his allegations against the BBC.
A Strained Exit and Serious Allegations
The 34-year-old businessman, who was the first celebrity eliminated from the latest series with professional partner Amy Dowden, 35, chose not to attend the grand finale on December 21, 2025. He also abstained from the traditional end-of-season group dance.
Skinner's departure was overshadowed by his claim to possess evidence of alleged vote rigging, which he said came via an anonymous email containing voting statistics. In response, the BBC issued a firm rebuttal, stating the public vote is 'independently overseen and verified' each week and that any contrary claims are 'entirely without foundation'. The broadcaster also noted Skinner had not shared the purported email with them.
'I Wish I'd Never Done It'
In a since-deleted social media post seen by Metro, Skinner expressed deep regret over his participation. 'If I’m being completely honest, I really regret doing Strictly Come Dancing. I wish I’d never done it,' he confessed.
He acknowledged expecting to be called a 'liar' and facing attempts to 'cancel' him, but stated he no longer cares. While admitting to personal mistakes, he stressed his frustration at his family being dragged into the spotlight. Skinner is married to Sinéad Chambers, with whom he shares a son born in October 2020 and twin daughters born in June 2023.
His time on the show began controversially when he publicly confessed to cheating on his wife shortly after their May 2022 wedding.
Moving On From the Controversy
Despite the turmoil, Skinner highlighted his friendship with pro dancer Amy Dowden as the sole positive. He insisted his departure from the show was 'on good terms' and clarified he holds no hatred for the BBC, thanking them for his 'big break' on The Apprentice.
'I’m not looking for conflict. I just want to get on with my life,' he concluded, stating his intention to return to work and focus on his family.
When approached for further comment, the BBC and PromoVeritas—the independent vote verification company—reiterated their previous statements. PromoVeritas confirmed all votes are validated by two auditors weekly with 'no issues' reported.
Skinner's brief Strictly stint was marked by several incidents:
- Disappointment from some fans due to his public endorsement of Donald Trump.
- An altercation where he grabbed a reporter's phone and stormed out of a press conference.
- Low scores for his dances—a paso doble scoring 16 and a salsa scoring 13—leading viewers to label him the series' 'worst dancer'.
