Thomas Skinner breaks silence as he sues BBC and reveals ‘set of demands’ over early Strictly exit 

He says he got an anonymous tip off from a BBC insider
EX-STRICTLY contestant Thomas Skinner has broken his silence after The Sun revealed he is suing the BBC over his early exit.

The Apprentice star confirmed The Sun’s story and doubled down on claims the Beeb rigged voting to get him off the show as quickly as possible.

Pals told The Sun Thomas believes negative headlines around his personal life and his friendship with US Vice President JD Vance got him the boot.

A BBC spokesperson told The Sun earlier this week: “Strictly Come Dancing’s ­public vote is robust and independently overseen and verified to ensure complete accuracy.”

Thomas, 34, and pro Amy Dowden were the first couple to leave the show after falling into the bottom two and losing in the dance-off.

The reality TV star says he was sent an anonymous tip off from a BBC insider stating he’d received more votes than accounted for.

He has now demanded to be shown the official voting figures.

He is also boycotting tonight’s final, in which he was due to perform in the Class of 2025 dance.

Speaking out on X, formerly Twitter, hours before the Strictly 2025 final, Thomas said in a lengthy statement: “As most of you will have seen in the papers, I won’t be at the final of Strictly Come Dancing tonight.

“First thing I wanna say is this…. I spoke with my lovely dance partner, Amy Dowden to make sure she was okay with me not attending.

“She’s a good person and a good friend now, I’d never let her down. “When I got given the opportunity to do Strictly back in April, I was buzzing. Not because I can dance…. I can’t.

“But because i really wanted to test myself and Learn something completely out of my comfort zone.

“On the night I left the show, I received an anonymous email claiming to be from a BBC exec with stats, saying I’d received far more votes than it appeared and it wasn’t right.

“I’ve since had the email independently verified.”

Thomas claimed his friendship with USA Vice President JD Vance is said to have caused a stir at the BBC, now caught in a row over a Panorama edit of a Trump speech.

The President this week sued for defamation, demanding £7.5billion.

“That same email mentioned the BBC was very angry an nervous simply because I had met JD Vance (USA VICE PRESIDENT),” Thomas added.

He continued: “Let me be clear, I’m not a political bloke …

“I have asked to see the official voting figures to back up the ones I was sent in the email but was told they couldn’t be shown to me and have never been shown in the history of the show.

“I have spoke about the email I had received to senior people and the BBC welfare team, who btw I genuinely respect.

“And they was the ones who advised me to get legal advice because of how unfair it all was. (This was not my idea).”

However, Thomas also accused producers of alienating him during the competition.

He added: “There were also smaller things that added to the feeling.

“Everyone received a welcome gift on the show….. skincare bits, face masks, that sort of thing.

“Mine was the only one that “Got Stolen” apparently. On its own, it’s nothing…. but added to everything else, it felt strange.”

Thomas said “a very senior BBC figure has resigned” since he brought his claims to them and appeared to linked Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s resignation to his exit.

He added: “I’m not saying that had anything to do with me, but it did feel bizarre.

“Also the main hosts stepped down the following week.

“Again, I’m not saying it has anything to do with me. It’s just all very coincidental. I’m just being honest.”

Thomas said he made the BBC aware he was suing on Wednesday and now wanted viewers to know why he wasn’t attending tonight’s final.

He said: “Now I’m writing a statement so people know the truth as to why I’m not attending, I don’t want people thinking I am bitter when I ain’t.”

He said he is “not kicking off for attention” adding: “I’m not saying I should’ve won either.

“I was rubbish at dancing, we all know that.

“But love me or hate me you do have to appreciate the massive following I have, I can’t even walk into the local Tesco without getting stopped for selfies. I just believe in fairness and respect.

“I wish every dancer tonight the very best. They’ve worked their socks off and they deserve their moment.

“As for me I’ve got fish to sell on my stall and a family I love more than anything. “Thank you for the love as Always. Bosh”

The Sun has contacted the BBC for comment on his recent claims.

VOTED OUT

The BBC never spells out how many public votes each star got.

Thomas was the first of 14 celebrities to be ousted in week two of the current series.

The pair, who scored 29 judges’ points over two shows, faced off against ex-England rugby star Chris Robshaw and pro Nadiya Bychkova, who had 30 points.

Judges’ scores from the first two weeks were added together, along with results of a public poll.

Thomas claimed to have proof it deliberately downplayed his tally.

All four judges voted out Thomas and Amy — leaving her in tears.

A source told us: “Thomas is adamant he got a larger share of the public vote and believes he has the evidence to prove it.

“He is determined to see it through, but there’s no way the BBC will take this sensational claim lying down.

“They’ll robustly defend any kinds of claims that the voting was rigged or fixed.”