Strictly Come Dancing’s 2025 season kicked off with a swirl of sequins, drama, and—perhaps inevitably—controversy, as entrepreneur and former Apprentice star Thomas Skinner became the first celebrity to exit the competition. His elimination, announced on October 4 after the second live show, capped a turbulent fortnight marked by public voting, intense scrutiny, and a wave of off-stage headlines that threatened to overshadow the ballroom.
Skinner, 34, and his professional partner Amy Dowden faced the dance-off against ex-rugby international Chris Robshaw and Nadiya Bychkova. The pair’s fate was sealed after a low-scoring salsa to Dizzee Rascal’s “Bonkers” left them at the bottom of the leaderboard, earning just 13 points from the judges. Combined with their week one score, it simply wasn’t enough to survive the public vote, which had just been introduced for the first time this series, according to reporting from The Independent.
As the music faded and the judges deliberated, the decision was unanimous. Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, and Craig Revel Horwood all voted to save Robshaw and Bychkova, with Motsi Mabuse confirming she would have done the same if needed. For Skinner and Dowden, it was the end of a short but eventful journey—one that left a mark on both the competition and the wider conversation swirling around it.
"I've loved it. I've never danced before and my stay was short, but Amy's amazing," Skinner told host Tess Daly in the aftermath. "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, ‘cause you're a different class." Dowden, who had missed the previous two series due to cancer treatment and a subsequent injury, offered her own emotional tribute: "We’ve laughed so much. We've worked so hard and a glitterball would have been amazing, but what I've learnt in the last few years is happiness, health and being alive is more important than anything. There is a ballroom boy in there, so I'm a bit gutted he didn't get to do the ballroom, but the last three years... I lost all confidence as a dancer - but walking into the room with you with a massive smile and a laugh, you brought me back and, honestly, thank you."
The elimination, though, was hardly a routine affair. Skinner’s time on Strictly Come Dancing was dogged by a string of controversies and public reactions that seemed to follow him from the very moment he was announced as a contestant. According to Daily Mail, his outspoken right-wing views and a recent confession that he cheated on his wife Sinead just weeks after their 2022 wedding had already raised eyebrows. Things escalated further when, days before the series launch, Skinner snatched a journalist’s phone at a press conference and stormed out, later explaining he’d been caught off guard by messages about a personal story from his past.
Social media was quick to react to Skinner’s salsa performance, with many viewers criticizing his dance skills, facial expressions, and what some called over-the-top energy. The backlash wasn’t limited to his moves: Skinner’s political leanings, including his support for US President Donald Trump and attendance at a barbeque hosted by Vice President JD Vance, drew ire from some corners of the internet. He was also criticized for social media posts defending patriotism and expressing concerns about safety in London—posts that, as Daily Mail reported, BBC insiders could do little about beyond asking his management to intervene.
Behind the scenes, the Strictly cast reportedly rallied around Skinner, with sources telling The Sun that he’d become one of the most popular members of the group despite the controversy. "Tom is just your average person who's been flung into a frenzy of hate ever since signing up to Strictly. He's rising above it all, but of course, it would get anyone down. That's why the support from his Strictly co-stars has meant so much to him," one insider said. Dowden herself urged fans to “be kind,” sharing on Instagram, “As we step into a new week, let’s choose to be kind, always. I was raised to treat others the way I’d want to be treated, and to never judge a book by its cover.”
Conspiracy theories soon swirled among fans, with some suggesting that Skinner’s exit was engineered by producers eager to rid the show of a divisive figure. The choice of song—a high-energy Latin number for a second week running—was cited by some as evidence that the odds were stacked against him. “The song for Skinner... Oh, they want him out bad,” wrote one user on X (formerly Twitter), echoing a sentiment that was widely shared online. Others lamented that Skinner hadn’t been given a chance to show his skills in a ballroom dance, which might have suited him better and earned higher marks from the judges.
Despite the storm, Skinner remained defiant. In a lengthy social media post, he wrote: “Life ain't easy. I've been kicked down and called every name under the sun recently and probably some of it I deserve, as yes I ain't always right. But since I got invited to have a BBQ with JD Vance… it's gone crazy. Certain people are doing everything they can to ruin me. Mainly faceless accounts giving it large and abusing me, hypocrites making everything political. Now I see people are fuming that I'm on Strictly… and the funny thing is that the majority of them got 'be kind' wrote in their bios. You couldn't make it up.”
For Amy Dowden, Skinner’s presence on the show was a blessing in disguise. After a tough few years battling illness and injury, she credited Skinner with helping restore her confidence and bringing laughter back into her life. "I've made a new friend for life and I wouldn't change a thing," she said, adding, "Words matter! Online and offline. A cruel comment might take seconds to type, but its impact can last much longer."
Strictly Come Dancing will return on October 11 with Movie Week, as the remaining 14 couples take to the floor once more. For Skinner, the journey may have ended early, but his time under the glitterball spotlight will be remembered for its candor, controversy, and—above all—the resilience he showed in the face of adversity.
As the competition moves forward, the question lingers: will the focus shift back to the dancing, or will the off-stage drama continue to cast its long shadow over the ballroom?
