Thomas Skinner's chances of winning Strictly Come Dancing improved in betting markets after the contestant apologised for grabbing a journalist's phone and walking out of a press launch earlier this week.
Skinner, 34, who rose to public attention on The Apprentice, left a press call at Elstree Studios on Tuesday after taking a reporter's phone and departing abruptly. He posted a statement on Instagram the following day in which he apologised to the journalist and said he had been "caught off guard" by messages on the screen that related to a "personal story" from his past.
In his Instagram statement, Skinner said: "To set the record straight off the back of yesterday, during one of the interviews, a journalist placed their phone on the table to record the conversation. I happened to catch a glimpse of the screen and saw numerous messages — not about Strictly, but about a personal story from my past." He added that he had "been through some difficult times in my life, which I've worked hard to move on from," and apologised for picking up the phone, saying he did not want to imply any bad intentions on the journalist's part.
The BBC has confirmed Skinner will remain in the show, which begins on September 20. Insiders told the Daily Mail that BBC executives sought a full explanation after the walkout and that Strictly's press team had been unable to locate Skinner at the studio during the event. A source close to Skinner said he regretted his behaviour and felt out of his depth in the live press environment, noting that previous TV appearances, including Celebrity MasterChef and The Apprentice, had been pre-recorded.
Following the incident and Skinner's apology, bookmaker William Hill shortened his outright odds to win the series from 18/1 to 16/1. The same bookmaker moved his odds to be the first eliminated out from 8/1 to 9/1. Lewis Cope remained the market leader at 11/4, with Dani Dyer at 7/2 and Ellie Goldstein at 5/1, according to the betting market update.
Photographs taken near the studio later in the week showed Skinner appearing downcast as he arrived for pre-recorded segments. He also shared a photo of himself in a makeup chair at Elstree Studios as he prepared to take part in the show's launch recordings. Skinner is married to Sinéad Chambers and is the father of three.
Strictly Come Dancing is a live entertainment format that brings heightened media scrutiny for contestants compared with pre-recorded programmes. Producers have in recent years faced public attention over how the show and broadcaster handle contestant conduct and controversies. The series' launch and first live shows will provide further opportunities for contestants to address the incident on air should they and production choose to do so.
Broadcasters and bookmakers alike monitored the episode closely as it unfolded, but as of the broadcaster's confirmation and Skinner's public apology, he remains a participant in this year's competition and a contender in betting markets as the series approaches its opening night.