By GRANT TUCKER, ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR and SARAH PACKER, CHIEF SHOWBIZ REPORTER (GLOBAL)
Controversial Strictly signing Thomas Skinner dramatically stormed out of the dance competition’s first press event on Tuesday.
Insiders told Daily Mail that the Apprentice star, 34, only took part in two interviews before exiting the event held at Elstree Studios, leaving organisers furious and BBC bosses in crisis talks over whether he should remain on the show.
Thomas was sitting next to former Chelsea star and fellow Strictly contestant Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink when he told the table of journalists: ‘I’m not doing this’, and fled from the event.
He had taken exception to being taped by journalists – which is standard for the event.
A female journalist asked him what had prompted him to take part in Strictly and it was at that point that Tom saw that he was being recorded on her phone. He bellowed: ‘What’s that?’
He then picked up the journalist’s phone and took it from the table., prompting the woman to furiously ask him: ‘What are you doing, can you answer the question, we have only got three minutes. I’m just recording him.’
Controversial Strictly signing Tom Skinner dramatically stormed out of the dance competition’s first press event on Tuesday
After a slight tussle in which the female journalist managed to retrieve her phone, Thomas walked out – with BBC escorts then temporarily taking Jimmy away from the table – while desperately trying to locate Thomas’ whereabouts.
A source said: ‘This is exactly what Strictly did not need. With all the recent controversy, bosses wanted this series to be smooth sailing but Tom is already causing havoc.’
The insider added: ‘It’s unprecedented for a celebrity to walk out of the show’s media launch day and bosses think it’s really bad form.’
‘If this is a sign of things to come, Strictly have a big problem.’
The Daily Mail can reveal bosses are now having crisis meetings about whether father-of-three Tom should stay on the show.
Strictly fans have been bombarding the Beeb with complaints – and vowed to boycott the show – after Thomas met with Donald Trump’s vice-president and called him a ‘proper gent’.
However, just moments before Thomas’ meltdown, BBC director-general Tim Davie defended the decision to cast the former Apprentice star, while speaking to MPs from the Culture, Media and Sport committee.
He said: ‘That was not my decision, that was the production team looking for those people… who want to do Strictly, and those people they thought would be interesting to the audience.
‘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, we wouldn’t accept them.
‘But that’s not the case here, from what I know, I’m not an expert on the individual, per se.’
Strictly fans have been bombarding BBC with complaints – and vowed to boycott the show – after Thomas met with Donald Trump’s vice-president JD Vance and called him a ‘proper gent’
Meanwhile, Thomas has insisted that the left-wing flak is unfair.
He told The Daily Mail last month: ‘I’m not right wing. People are like sheep and just started saying it because I got invited to go to bbq with JD Vance and I posted a picture with him.
‘Who is gonna turn down an opportunity to meet the 2nd most powerful man in the world?’, he added.
And in a message for his critics he said: ‘Some people will hate you without ever really knowing you — and that’s okay.
‘I wish them well. We’re all different, and not everyone will see life the same way. If their anger or bitterness has to go somewhere, I’d rather they throw it at me than ruin someone else’s day. I can take it’.
In recent days, he’s spoken on social media about the heavy trolling he’s received since meeting up with Donald Trump’s righthand man last month and claimed it’s heavily impacted himself and his family.
Defending his meeting with Vance at a barbecue in the Cotswolds, he said: ‘I’m not right wing.
‘People are like sheep and just started saying it because I got invited to go to bbq with JD Vance and I posted a picture with him.
‘Who is gonna turn down an opportunity to meet the 2nd most powerful man in the world?”
Tom was a surprise pick for the upcoming series.
Since making his name on the 2019 series of The Apprentice, his only other notable TV appearance was on Celebrity MasterChef the following year.
Known for his Bos catchphrase, Tom has billed himself as a ‘modern day Del Boy’ and has attracted legions of social media followers courtesy of his early motivational speeches from his favourite cafe.
Last month, Tom moaned he wasn’t about his wealth not being on par with other reality stars he follows on social media in a tweet which is quickly deleted.
He ranted: ‘How do all these celebrities have loads of money? You don’t get bundles of dough for TV or adverts etc (well I don’t)….
‘But I look on Instagram and they’re always in this gaff or posting in a new motor.
‘I finished me Strictly stuff earlier today and I’m now out in my van delivering mattresses. Do I need to be part of a special club now on the tele that’s gives ya unlimited monies.’
STRICTLY LINEUP 2025 Harry Aikines-Aryeetey
Age: 36
Profession: Olympic Sprinter and Gladiator
Harry says: ‘I’ll be bringing tons of energy to light up the dance floor. Let’s hope I’m as quick picking up the routines as I am on the track.’
Alex Kingston
Age: 62
Profession: Doctor Who actress
The actress teases: ‘My hips don’t lie.’
Balvinder Sopal
Age: 46
Profession: EastEnders actress
Balvinder says: ‘I’m far too excited to put into words how I feel but I’m incredibly excited at the prospect of dancing across the ballroom.’
La Voix
Age: 45
Profession: Drag performer
She says: ‘Strictly is a national institution and I can’t wait to get started. All that’s left to say is: good luck to my partner! Here’s hoping they can help me go from La Voix into La Danse.’
Thomas Skinner
Age: 34
Profession: Reality star and entrepreneur
He says: ‘Bring on the sequins, sambas and most importantly, the BOSH to the ballroom!’
Vicky Pattison
Age: 37
Profession: Reality TV star
She says: ‘I’m absolutely buzzing to be part of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing line-up… but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t terrified.’
Karen Carney
Age: 38
Profession: Football pundit
She says: ‘I’m such a huge fan of the show and I can’t believe I’m finally getting the chance to take part.’
Dani Dyer
Age: 29
Profession: Reality star, 2018 Love Island winner
Dani says: ‘Getting the opportunity to be on Strictly is the second most amazing thing I’ve done this year! feel very very blessed and cannot wait to get my dancing shoes on.’
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
Age: 53
Profession: Former Chelsea and Netherlands striker and ex-England coach.
He says: ‘Swapping the pitch for the ballroom is certainly not something I’ve done before but I’m looking forward to tackling a fun challenge! Bring on a new type of footwork, with hopefully no own goals.’
Ellie Goldstein
Age: 23
Profession: Model, influencer and disability ambassador
She says: ‘It’s a show I’ve loved watching for so long, and the chance to now be part of it feels like a dream’.
Chris Robshaw
Age: 39
Profession: Rugby player
He says: ‘This is about as far out of my comfort zone as it gets! I’m hoping to take my dad-dancing to a whole new level, and my mum can’t wait to drag me along to her Zumba class’.
Stefan Dennis
Age: 66
Profession: Actor
He says: ‘Looking forward to the sparkle and reaching for the sky.’
Ross King
Age: 63
Profession: Showbiz correspondent
He says: ‘I can’t wait to learn from the best, meet my fellow contestants, and, most importantly… try not to step on too many toes!’
Lewis Cope
Age: 30
Profession: Actor
He says: ‘I’m so excited to be swapping the Dales for the dance floor and joining this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.’
Read more on Daily Mail Online
