Strictly should axe Thomas Skinner – for everyone’s sake

The former Apprentice contestant became the very first celebrity to ‘storm out’ on the show’s press day in Strictly’s 21-year history (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

In this column, just a few weeks ago, I made clear from the moment that Thomas Skinner was announced for Strictly Come Dancing that it was a terrible decision, and it’s only become more apparent since.

Yesterday, the former Apprentice contestant became the very first celebrity to ‘storm out’ on the show’s press day in Strictly’s 21-year history.

The social media star took part in just two interviews before imploding at what was, by all accounts, an extremely calm and innocuous question.

Skinner – recently pictured cosying up to hard right US Vice President JD Vance – was sitting next to former Chelsea footballer and Strictly contestant Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to talk to the media.

According to the Daily Mail, after apparently discovering for the first time he was being recorded, he then said ‘I’m not doing this’, flipped out and grabbed a female reporter’s phone which was being used to record the conversation.

Reportedly, everyone in the room was taken aback, and it isn’t hard to see why. 

Skinner has since made a statement, apologising for grabbing someone else’s phone and claiming he grabbed it because he saw a message about a ‘personal story’ from his past on the screen which ‘caught him off guard’. 

Thomas Skinner’s statement on his social media (Picture: iamtomskinner/Instagram)

Whatever the intentions, it still doesn’t give much confidence that Skinner is made of the resilience and integrity he needs to be under such an intense spotlight. 

It also doesn’t clarify why, in the alleged audio of the incident, he appeared to ask why he was being recorded. Everyone who takes part in these press days is fully aware the conversations are being recorded. 

If they didn’t because they were that inexperienced or uneducated when it comes to media, they’re certainly not prepared for the scrutiny and attention that comes with appearing on Strictly Come Dancing.

I had doubts about Skinner’s temperament and suitability, having been taken aback by some of his apparent trolling on social media and what looked like an attempt to stoke culture wars.

On this evidence, those fears were entirely justified. In a bizarre twist of timing, the reports emerged just hours after BBC boss Tim Davie defended the decision to cast him. 

Skinner’s addition to the Strictly line-up was odd from the get-go (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

I’ve taken part in several Strictly press days and they are admittedly very intense for the stars and journalists alike. 

We were typically split into groups with two or three Strictly contestants circulating around the room. A three-minute timer is set and that’s all the time allotted to ask talent questions until the buzzer goes off and the celebs move on to the next table.

Most journalists have experienced a difficult moment with a celeb at the Strictly roundtable. A well-loved comedian threw a strop at a journalist in front of me over a very inoffensive question which left the table bewildered and stunned.

But it’s largely accepted that if you sign up to a show as enormous as Strictly, easily one of the most scrutinised series on television, that you might have to face some questions. And Skinner was apparently only asked an innocent question – it was hardly a Paxman-esque grilling on some of his more questionable output.

After a ‘tussle’ with the female journalist, she eventually managed to retrieve her phone. 

Skinner left the event and BBC escorts reportedly removed Hasselbaink from the table, too, while trying to find their raging new contestant.

Skinner was recently pictured cosying up to hard right US Vice President JD Vance (Picture: iamtomskinner/Instagram)

It’s another headache Strictly doesn’t need after being hit by all manner of well-documented controversy in recent years. Subsequently, BBC bosses are reportedly having crisis meetings about whether the gobby pillow salesman should stay on the show.

What’s all the more disappointing about Skinner kicking off at a very simple question is that he’s built a career on being bolshy and confrontational – but can’t even answer why he’s signed up to Strictly.

It’s completely unacceptable.

Skinner’s addition to the Strictly line-up was odd from the get-go. I do believe the show should reflect its audience, and, yes, a lot of its audience will be right-wing – I’m sure there’s a handful who were already Skinner fans. 

He’s built a social media following by having full roast dinners for breakfast (Picture: iamtomskinner/Instagram)

What’s especially strange is that Skinner was barely qualified as a celebrity until a few years ago. After competing on The Apprentice in 2019 — where, even I’ll admit, I found him charming — he went on to appear on various light entertainment shows like 8 Out of 10 Cats and Celebrity MasterChef.

He’s since built a social media following by having full roast dinners for breakfast and ironically bragging about his humble beginnings, family values and having no desire to be a celebrity – despite making very clear attempts to be a celebrity.

But the BBC made their choice and Skinner – at least potentially until now – was going to be on TV screens every Saturday and Sunday night for what I predict will be at least six or seven weeks into the contest.

Personally, I don’t see how his position on the show is still tenable without a very public and grovelling apology to the journalist he berated — and whose property he snatched.

Already, his fragility rings alarm bells and that unexpected booking puts an unwanted dimness on the series long before it’s begun.

I’m still totally perplexed by Skinner’s behaviour yesterday, as is everyone who was there to witness it first-hand.

Whatever the BBC decides to do next comes with consequences.

Should he stay, they’ve now got bigger questions to answer about his addition to the line-up.

Should he go, Strictly will no doubt be accused of trying to silence a right-wing voice and I predict Skinner will be able to use the axe to play the victim.

The BBC can’t win either way, but for me, the best course of action is obvious. 

Get rid, and make space for a contestant who sums up what Strictly is about and leave the unnecessary drama out the door. Bosh.

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