It seemed, on the surface, to be an inspired hire by Strictly casting experts.
Thomas Skinner, star of the 2019 Apprentice series, was selected for his ‘laddy’ working class appeal – as well as for his Right-wing political connections, which even extended to US Vice President JD Vance.
All in all, Skinner’s inclusion promised to ensure there would be a good mix among the show’s contestants this year.
As well as this, Skinner’s larger than life personality promised to be great entertainment, too.
‘We thought the kids would love him,’ one show insider told me.
But today, as the series is about to celebrate its finale after three months on air, some BBC bosses deeply regret their decision to sign the former mattress seller from east London.
Because he is now threatening to sue the Corporation, accusing it of rigging the voting system to remove him from the show as quickly as possible. Indeed, Skinner, along with his professional partner, cancer survivor Amy Dowden, was the first to go home.
Skinner, a father-of-three, claims the disobliging publicity about his behaviour – which included an embarrassing affair with beautician Amy-Lucy O’Rourke – prompted the show bosses to decide to usher him to the exit as soon as they could.
Thomas Skinner is now threatening to sue the BBC, accusing it of rigging the voting system to remove him from Strictly as quickly as possible
Skinner and his partner Amy Dowden were the first couple to exit the show
On the first week of eliminations, he found himself in the dance-off after the judges’ scores from the first two weeks were added together, along with results of a public vote, to make a dismal 29 out of 80.
He and Amy lost out to England rugby star Chris Robshaw and his partner Nadiya Bychkova.
At the time Skinner seemed equanimous, thanking Strictly, and his partner, saying: ‘I’ve loved it. I’ve never danced before and my stay was short, but Amy’s amazing.
‘It’s been great fun and I’ve enjoyed it. I can’t really dance that well but I’ve had fun! Thank you, Amy – sorry that we haven’t done too good, because you’re a different class.’
However, I can reveal that despite Skinner’s claims that he is to sue the BBC, they are yet to receive any legal correspondence from him, with one boss musing to me: ‘Which lawyer would take that on? He has no chance of winning.’
The timing of Skinner’s legal claim appears to be significant – and has infuriated BBC bosses, who have accused him of cynically orchestrating this move just hours before Saturday night’s final so that he can ‘grab headlines at a time when the show is being celebrated’.
Certainly, public attention will be firmly placed on Strictly tomorrow night, as it marks the final live show for hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
Yet in an extraordinary statement to me, BBC insiders insisted that if Skinner does follow through with his threat ‘it will be war’.
Skinner was seen laughing as he worked behind the counter of his Lairy Lobster food stall in Brentwood, Essex, this morning
Sources tell me that they are ‘extra super cross’ because they wholeheartedly supported him throughout the episodes of online abuse and bullying he received while on the show, particularly after his infidelity against his loyal wife Sinead Chambers was revealed.
The source went on: ‘It is very disappointing that Thomas has decided to do this so close to the final.
‘Strictly and the BBC went above and beyond to support him when he was getting online abuse while on the show. We worked so closely with him to help him navigate the difficulties which he wasn’t really ready for.
‘It is also such a shame that he had to grab the headlines as Tess and Claudia end their time on the show.
‘Everyone loved working with Thomas, it’s such a shame that he has decided to make it play out like this. But if he wants to continue then it is war.’
All in all, it seems they are not taking Skinner’s actions lying down.
His apparent decision to sue the BBC also affects Amy Dowden, a much-loved dancer on the show who was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago, before undergoing chemotherapy and a mastectomy. She returned to Strictly last year to partner pop singer JB Gill but was forced to pull out for medical reasons.
This year though, Amy was back, and was thrilled to be paired with Skinner. He told me during an interview that he ‘adored’ her and couldn’t believe his luck. He vowed to do her proud and the couple became very close.
How hollow those words seem now. Because on Saturday she will now have no partner because Skinner is refusing to join the other contestants from the Class of 2025 for one final celebratory performance.
His reasons, he told the BBC this week, were that he had ‘another commitment’ – something they simply do not believe.
‘It’s so sad for Amy that she has nobody to dance with this weekend,’ said the source. ‘She is now fit and healthy and would have loved to have had last chance to perform with Thomas, but he has ruined that for her now.
‘Amy will never complain about things like this. She only worries about things that really matter these days but this is not fair on her. She could have had such a lovely swansong with Thomas. It would have been so special for her and meant so much. It all feels very selfish.’
As for Skinner, who was seen laughing as he worked behind the counter of his Lairy Lobster food stall in Brentwood, Essex, this morning, I’m told that he is taking his next step ‘seriously’ despite not yet firing off a legal letter.
He is, say sources who know him, sure he was ‘stitched up’ and he doesn’t believe that the numbers of the votes will add up if inspected.
It comes after Skinner, 34, went on a lengthy rant in October where he said that he wished he had never taken part in the show.
He wrote in a social media post: ‘I’ve had enough of all this b*****. I can’t do anything right now without someone criticising (sic) me. Or making me do something against my will. It’s b*******.
‘I wish I never done Strictly, l never fitted the bill for that show let’s be honest. And It’s caused me nothing but agg. Constant abuse.’
Much of his ‘abuse’ came after I revealed he had lied about his affair with O’Rourke – initially, he had suggested that it was a one off. However, she later told me the relationship lasted several months.
Skinner also believed that he was paid significantly less for his appearance on Strictly than his fellow contestants.
Meanwhile, the BBC have dismissed his accusations and say he is ‘insulting’ the rigorous voting systems they have in place to make sure there is no room for any kind of dishonesty or cheating.
Insiders there tell me it would be ‘impossible’ for the votes to be rigged.
‘It is simply impossible, it just couldn’t happen,’ says the source. ‘The votes are all managed and looked at by an external team and they are independently verified. It’s impossible for anything untoward to happen. He’s barking up the wrong tree here.’
‘We know what a scandal that would be if this had really happened. It would actually bring down the show. Why would anyone want to do that, just to get rid of Thomas a bit earlier?’
I’m told that Skinner wants to ‘see this through’ until the end.
‘This is going to rumble on until Thomas gets the answers he wants,’ says a friend of his.
‘He is cross about this and feels like he wants some justice.’
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