As I stand among the latest group of Strictly contestants at our yearly media gathering, the array of ham sandwiches, Greek salads, and pesto pasta may not set hearts racing, but they’re a much-appreciated boost for us before the whirlwind that lies ahead!
Instead of the grand premiere of the BBC’s leading dance show, which took place under glamorous lights, this event occurred within a dimly lit room adorned with a sequined disco ball and tables laden with Haribo candies for approximately 25 reporters at Elstree Studios. The atmosphere was as welcoming as a conference room in a local Travelodge hotel.
It might have been less noticeable this year due to the series of scandals that have affected the usually popular Saturday night show.
I was worried that I might find it challenging to create engaging content with just five minutes per interview, shared among three journalists from competing media outlets, considering the current lineup for Strictly this year is not particularly impressive.
Approximately 15 minutes into what was initially an ordinary event, the situation abruptly turned chaotic, drawing my immediate attention. Thomas Skinner, a prior contestant of The Apprentice and acquaintance of US Vice President JD Vance, unexpectedly left in a heated outburst. His departure took everyone off guard, including the Strictly press team who hurriedly pursued him following this dramatic exit.
Oh, let me tell you, the moment was electrifying! It all began so smoothly when, introduced by the gracious Kalpna Patel-Knight, the one and only Skinner, resplendent in his signature gilet and flat cap, engaged magazine journalists at a table not far from mine. I felt like I was right in the thick of it!
According to my associates, he was engaging in lively conversation with them. His face lit up like a beacon as he recounted his delightful experience during his inaugural training session with his expert dance companion.
At the second out of seven designated stations, a horn was blown by one of the PR assistants from Strictly, signaling the end of his five-minute stint at that location. He then proceeded to the next table. It was during this interaction that he encountered a question which caused such irritation that doubts about his participation in the show have arisen now.
The journalist, in a casual manner, inquired, “Do you fear being associated with ‘Strictly’ in a way that might negatively impact your career, like what happened to Wynne Evans and Giovanni Pernice?” The term ‘Strictlyfied’ seems to be the reporter’s original phrase, implying a potential downfall in one’s career following their participation on the show.
With an understanding of the potential harm it might cause to his career, considering the increased scrutiny following his encounter with Vance at the barbecue last month, Skinner remained quiet.
As reported by another reporter, during the subsequent five-minute segment, he declined to participate further, leaving reporters to address their queries instead to his fellow Strictly competitor and ex-Chelsea footballer, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
Later, as the horn sounded, a man named 6ft Skinner was guided towards me, accompanied by the highest-ranking member of the Strictly PR team whose role was to oversee everything running smoothly. Upon approaching, Skinner extended his hand for a shake and greeted me warmly, saying “Nice to meet you, mate.” He then introduced himself to the other two journalists seated at our table before taking his seat.
As we all got comfortable, a reporter inquired about Floyd Hasselbaink’s well-being regarding his training routines. However, while Jimmy was responding, it appeared that Skinner’s attention was elsewhere; he looked preoccupied or distracted.
As a devoted follower, I’d rephrase it as: “And when a woman journalist inquired, ‘Why did you accept this fantastic opportunity, Skinner?’, upon noticing the recording device – a common journalistic practice – I exclaimed, ‘What was that?’
While browsing through her personal device’s screen, he found himself tapping it. In response, she inquired curiously, “What are you up to?” and later addressed someone from the BBC PR, expressing, “I’m merely recording him.
In a quick scuffle, Skinner tried to grab his phone, but then declared to the group of reporters, “I’m not participating in this!” After that, he abruptly left the gathering.
I was utterly amazed by the spectacle I’d just seen, and I watched as the head of press for Strictly pursued him.
It wasn’t avoidable for me to empathize with the hard-working press team, who had been wishing for a tranquil event, but ended up having to scramble to locate Skinner who appeared to be out of reach and unwilling to return for additional inquiries.
Approximately 24 hours after the incident, Skinner finally spoke up about his outburst. Through a post shared on social media, he clarified: ‘In response to yesterday’s events, I would like to make it clear that during one of the interviews, a journalist placed their phone on the table to record our conversation.’
‘Suddenly, I noticed some messages on the screen, and they weren’t related to Strictly. Instead, they were about a personal story from my past. At that very instant, the sight of them took me by surprise. I decided to take a moment to collect my thoughts, so I stepped away for a while.’
Skinner also apologised to the journalist, who works for The Sun.
It’s clear that Skinner is dealing with significant stress due to his busy social media presence. His outspoken political opinions have sparked a divide among the public, with some applauding him for criticizing Mayor of London Sadiq Khan when he described London as ‘hostile’, ‘tense’, and ‘not safe’.
He has also been pictured with a Make America Great Again cap and boasted of his patriotism.
He is now widely adored as a charismatic icon, known for his playful and friendly demeanor. He often shares videos of his tireless work ethic, which is sustained by massive full English breakfasts, and is consistently heard uttering his signature phrase, “Bosh.
Even though the whirlwind of Strictly stardom has me captivated beyond belief, I must say, what transpired on Tuesday left me utterly appalled and downright terrified.
His fury seemed to go from zero to 60 in a matter of seconds and he let himself down.
There’s growing concern at the BBC regarding his role on the program, as they ponder if such conduct might continue throughout the remaining episodes.
Additionally, I share concerns about his dance partner, whom I’m unable to reveal due to BBC’s tight confidentiality policy. She is teamed with one of the more reserved female contestants on the program. If he can’t keep his cool during a routine interview, I am apprehensive that she may face similar outbursts.
To be clear, the entire situation certainly has me feeling quite puzzled. After all, when the BBC decided to bring on their most contentious participant in a long time, one might wonder what they anticipated would happen. But based on current events, it appears that something other than what was expected is unfolding.
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2025-09-10 19:19