Former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Thomas Skinner has reportedly launched explosive legal action against the BBC, claiming the show’s public voting was manipulated to force his early exit from the competition.
The Apprentice star is said to be convinced he was deliberately pushed out of Strictly after just two weeks, despite believing he received far stronger public support than the BBC made known. According to reports, Thomas insists he has evidence showing his vote share was “downplayed” to ensure his elimination at the earliest possible stage.
Thomas and his professional partner Amy Dowden were the first couple sent home this series, after judges’ scores from the opening weeks were combined with a public vote — the exact breakdown of which was never revealed by the BBC.
An insider alleged that Thomas is “adamant he got a much larger share of the public vote” and is determined to challenge the broadcaster legally. The source said he believes the show’s bosses were “hell-bent on getting him out as soon as possible,” regardless of how many viewers supported him.
However, the BBC has firmly rejected the allegations. In a statement, a spokesperson said that Strictly Come Dancing’s public vote is “robust and independently overseen and verified to ensure complete accuracy.”
Sources at the corporation also insist that no legal paperwork has been received, despite claims that Thomas is preparing to sue. The BBC is expected to strongly defend itself against any suggestion that the voting was fixed.
It was also claimed Thomas was invited to return for the final this weekend — an offer he allegedly refused amid ongoing rows with bosses. Although another explanation suggests his absence is simply due to a prior commitment, insiders insist tensions have been simmering ever since his shock departure.
Amy Dowden will still return to the ballroom to dance alongside her fellow professionals, while the rest of the 2025 celebrity line-up is expected to reunite for the final.
Thomas’s time on the show was controversial from the start. He sparked backlash over his behaviour off-screen, including social media rows and clashes with journalists, which only intensified scrutiny around his brief Strictly stint.
