Former The Apprentice star Thomas Skinner has delivered a candid and regretful statement about his recent experience on BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing, revealing he wishes he had never signed up for the show.
A Journey Cut Short and Claims of Rigged Voting
Skinner, who was partnered with professional dancer Amy Dowden, was eliminated from the competition in only the second week. His departure was swiftly followed by reports that he was considering legal action against the BBC. The businessman claimed he received an anonymous email on the night he was voted off, purportedly from a BBC executive, which suggested the public voting figures did not accurately reflect the support he had received.
"I've since had the email independently verified," Skinner stated. He further explained that his request to see the official voting statistics to compare with the data in the email was denied, a move he says is consistent with the show's history of not releasing such figures.
'Taking a Step Back': Skinner's Emotional Statement
In a lengthy new statement released just after the Strictly final on 21 December 2025 – which he did not attend – Skinner expressed his gratitude to supporters but admitted the experience had taken a severe toll. "If I'm being completely honest, I really regret doing Strictly Come Dancing. I wish I'd never done it," he confessed.
He anticipated backlash, saying, "I expect people will call me a liar, they'll try to cancel me, say I'm hated." While accepting responsibility for his own mistakes during the process, he drew a line at his family being involved. "So I need to take a step back. I never wanted any of this to become public," Skinner emphasised.
The Lone Positive and Moving Forward
The sole bright spot from his time on the show, according to Skinner, was forming a friendship with Amy Dowden, whom he described as "a genuinely lovely person." Beyond that, he said the experience had generated overwhelming negative attention.
He was keen to clarify his relationship with the broadcaster, stating his departure was "on good terms" and that he holds no hatred for the BBC, acknowledging it was the platform that gave him his "big break" on The Apprentice. Looking ahead, Skinner said his focus is now on his family and his work, stating, "Tomorrow I'll be back at work, focusing on my family, my children, and my beautiful wife."
In response to the earlier legal action reports, a BBC spokesperson told The Mirror: "Strictly Come Dancing's public vote is robust and independently overseen and verified to ensure complete accuracy." Sources also indicated the corporation had not received any formal legal complaint regarding the matter.
