London — Amy Dowden, the Welsh professional dancer who has battled breast cancer, is returning to the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom this year, paired with Thomas Skinner. The pairing has sparked renewed scrutiny of the lineup after Skinner drew headlines for storming out of a press event earlier this month and amid revelations about his personal life. The BBC has stood by Skinner, saying it remains confident in the selection as the series begins.
During Saturday's launch episode, Dowden and Skinner were introduced on the show's couch with the other contestants as hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman welcomed the cast. Peter Levy, the BBC Look North presenter, posted on Twitter that he felt sorry for Dowden, writing: 'I feel sorry for Amy Dowden...'. The comment drew a chorus of supportive replies from fans who said Dowden deserved a strong celebrity partner this year, given her health battles and the scrutiny surrounding Skinner.
Dowden's return follows her battle with breast cancer and comes after she was paired with JB Gill in last year's edition, before having to withdraw from the competition due to injury. Skinner has faced intense scrutiny over his personal life, including admitting to cheating on his wife weeks after their May 2022 wedding, describing the fling as a 'moment of madness.' Amy-Lucy O'Rourke, who described herself as Skinner's secret mistress, told the Daily Mail that their relationship lasted three months, during which time he said he was in love with her and unhappy in his marriage.
Since then, Skinner's private life has continued to make headlines. The mistress has vowed to reveal more about the affair, and Skinner himself addressed the matter in a late-September post that referenced 'dark shadows' and life’s ups and downs. On his social feed, he posted a selfie with the caption: 'Good Morning You Lovely People!!' and wrote about an early gym session as he prepared for another day of dancing with his Strictly partner.
Meanwhile, Dowden has said she is not a homewrecker, telling followers that trolls will try to shape the narrative but that she intends to focus on the competition and her health journey. She has thanked supporters on Instagram Stories for their messages of encouragement.
Thomas Skinner's past also drew recent attention before the series began. In 2011, he was charged with dishonestly handling goods, linked to a police case involving thousands of Body Shop cleansing gels and diazepam tablets. He later addressed renewed attention to his past, including a February incident described by some outlets as witnessing a robbery at a Greggs store, and he used a social post to emphasize his path to turning his life around and helping others through a knife-crime campaign.
On the day of the launch, Skinner introduced himself to viewers alongside Dowden and the other contestants. He told hosts Daly and Winkleman that he felt like the underdog of the competition, noting that his prior dance experience consists mostly of dancing at weddings after a few beers, but he promised to give it his all and learn. The remarks painted a picture of a participant aiming to rise above controversy and deliver a message of resilience for a year in which Dowden’s health history has added a layer of emotional resonance to the competition.
The BBC has stood by Skinner in the face of ongoing headlines, and it has not announced any changes to the Strictly lineup. The corporation and Skinner’s representatives did not offer further comment beyond statements issued in recent weeks. As the series unfolds, audiences will likely continue weighing Dowden’s recovery and determination against the backdrop of Skinner’s public life and the broader scrutiny surrounding this year’s edition of the show.