Thomas Skinner has admitted he had a brief affair shortly after marrying his wife Sinead, calling it the "biggest mistake" of his life, but the former Apprentice contestant will remain a contestant on this year's Strictly Come Dancing.

Skinner, 34, told The Sun the incident occurred just weeks after his May 2022 wedding and described it as a "moment of madness" that left him "feeling absolutely terrible." He said he met the woman in a pub and accepted an offer of cosmetic treatments, then had a "two week thing" with the woman, whom he described as a beauty clinic boss. "I had a fling. It was nothing more than that. It was the one time, it was a mistake," he said, adding that he told his wife and understood if she chose never to speak to him again.

Skinner said his wife forgave him and that the episode showed how something brief could "ruin your life." He and Sinead have three children: a son, Henry, aged five, and twin daughters, Roma and Darla, aged two. Skinner rose to prominence on The Apprentice and later built a social media following, becoming known for his "Bosh" catchphrase.

The admission follows an unrelated incident in which Skinner abruptly left a Strictly press call after taking a reporter's phone. He later posted an apology on Instagram acknowledging the phone incident and saying he was working to "move past difficult moments in his past." The BBC has said it is standing by Skinner and he will remain on the programme, which is scheduled to launch on Sept. 20.

In promotion for the show, Skinner posted a video in which he wore a glittering purple suit and showed dance moves, writing that he was "absolutely LOVING being part of Strictly" and signing off with his catchphrase. In an interview with The Times, he said he considered it an "honour" to appear on the dance floor and confirmed his reported fee for the series was £10,000, adding that he would have taken the role for much less.

Representatives for Skinner did not immediately respond to requests for further comment. The disclosure of the affair and the subsequent press-call incident have drawn widespread tabloid coverage and public attention in the run-up to the television series, but organisers have indicated no change to his participation.

Skinner framed his account as a single lapse in judgment and apologised directly to those affected. He said his actions were his own and reflected on the potential consequences, noting the support he had received from his family since the revelation. The BBC and the show's producers have reiterated their decision to keep him in the cast ahead of the programme's opening week.