Thomas Skinner has apologised after he picked up a journalist’s phone and left a roundtable press session while promoting the new series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Skinner, a former contestant on The Apprentice and a social media personality, said on social media that during a Tuesday interview he glimpsed a message on a reporter’s phone about “a personal story from my past” that caught him off guard. He said he felt it was “best to step away and gather myself.”
In a post on Wednesday, Skinner said he wanted “to set the record straight off the back of yesterday” and apologised for picking up someone else’s phone. “I don't even know if the journalist realised their messages were visible, and I don't want to suggest any bad intentions on their part,” he wrote. He added that the incident “had nothing to do with the interviews or Strictly itself” and that he remains on the show’s line-up, saying he “can't wait to give it my all on that dancefloor.”
The incident occurred during a series of roundtable interviews, where celebrities meet groups of journalists for short sessions in a format similar to speed-dating. Skinner exited the session before it had ended and before he completed the full press circuit.
Skinner first rose to public attention on The Apprentice in 2019 and has since appeared on a range of television programmes, including 8 Out of 10 Cats, The Wheel, Michael McIntyre's Big Show, Good Morning Britain and Celebrity MasterChef. He is known for his motivational social media videos, signing off posts with the catchphrase “Bosh!”, and for running several small businesses and a gym. He is also a regular contributor to TalkSport Radio.
He has proved a divisive figure in recent months. Some critics pointed to social media posts that showed him meeting US politician JD Vance and another in which he wore a Make America Great Again cap. Supporters, however, praise his messages about traditional and family values and his campaigning on issues such as knife crime.
Earlier on Tuesday, BBC director-general Tim Davie defended the decision to include Skinner when questioned by MPs on the House of Commons culture, media and sport select committee. Davie said the casting choice was made by the show’s production team and that the BBC would not hire anyone whose views crossed clear lines of acceptability. “Clearly, we wouldn't take anyone whose views are just beyond the pale, or we would see as completely unacceptable or not suitable, racist views, all those things,” he said. “But that's not the case here, from what I know.”
Producers have not announced any changes to the Strictly line-up following the incident. The series is due to return later this month, and Skinner reiterated his enthusiasm for taking part, thanking people for their support and saying he was “so excited to be part of Strictly this year.”
The BBC and the production team for Strictly Come Dancing did not immediately comment beyond previously issued statements about casting decisions. The network has in recent years faced scrutiny over contestant selections and the balance between attracting viewers and managing reputational risk.
Skinner made it to the ninth week of The Apprentice in 2019. He has continued to be a public figure through television, radio and social media, and his participation in Strictly has prompted both criticism and support as the new series approaches.