Thomas Skinner will remain a contestant on this year's Strictly Come Dancing after storming out of the show's press launch Tuesday and seizing a reporter's phone, the Daily Mail reported.
The incident unfolded at Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, where Skinner, 34, conducted two promotional interviews before refusing to answer a question about why he had signed up for Strictly and taking a reporter's phone. Strictly's press team were initially unable to locate him at the media event, prompting internal discussions about whether he should continue on the BBC series amid wider scrutiny of the corporation.
Citing people close to the situation, media outlets said producers held crisis talks but ultimately decided Skinner should stay on the show. A source told the Daily Mail that Skinner was "regretful" about his behaviour and that he had been enjoying dance rehearsals prior to the press event. Another insider told Sun Online that Skinner had appeared stressed and was "not coping" with the pressure of the conference but that the BBC was backing him.
A friend, media commentator Adam Brooks, posted on X that he had spoken to Skinner and confirmed the contestant remained on the programme. The Daily Mail said it had contacted Skinner and the BBC for comment.
Skinner's appearance on Strictly has generated controversy unrelated to the press-launch incident. Critics on social media highlighted his past public support for U.S. conservative figures, including a photograph with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance taken at a recent barbecue Skinner attended. He has previously posted images wearing a "Make America Great Again" cap and publicly praised former President Donald Trump, comments that some viewers said made his casting controversial.
Skinner has also faced public scrutiny for past legal troubles. Before his rise to television fame, he was charged with handling stolen goods and related offences; he has acknowledged those convictions publicly and written about his turnaround. In a post on X earlier this year, Skinner said he had been arrested when he was younger, had "paid the price" for his convictions and now works to inspire others by speaking in schools and running a gym-based knife crime campaign.
Producers pointed to Skinner's prior television experience on shows such as Celebrity MasterChef and The Apprentice, noting those formats are prerecorded and do not expose participants to the same level of live press scrutiny as Strictly. Sources said Skinner felt unfamiliar with the environment of a live press day and hoped to focus on the dancing after the incident.
The decision to retain Skinner comes as the BBC and its high-profile programmes have sought to manage reputational risks following a series of controversies. Strictly Come Dancing has faced heightened public attention in recent seasons, and producers have been careful about contestant conduct during promotional duties.
Skinner is married with three children and has described taking part in Strictly as something he hoped to do for his mother and for viewers who identify with his background. He has told media previously that the show appealed to "pint-drinking, kebab-eating dads" and that he wanted to encourage others through his participation.
Representatives for the BBC and Strictly did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment beyond statements relayed to national newspapers.