Strictly Come Dancing star Thomas Skinner has broken his silence after he had an epic meltdown at the show’s press day this week.
The former Apprentice star, 34, shocked journalists on Tuesday when he grabbed a female reporter’s phone before storming out of the room during an interview.
Despite growing backlash to axe him from the lineup, the BBC have stood by Thomas, with the Daily Mail revealing on Wednesday that he will be remaining on the show after bosses insisted he could ‘cope with the pressure of the series’.
Addressing the scandal, he took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a statement in which he apologised to the journalist and admitted he was working to ‘move past difficult moments in his past’.
He shared: ‘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.’
Strictly Come Dancing star Thomas Skinner has broken his silence after he had an epic meltdown at the show’s press day this week (pictured on Wednesday)
Addressing the scandal, he took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a statement in which he apologised to the journalist and admitted he was working to ‘move past difficult moments’
Revealing he felt triggered from tales of his past, he continued: ‘I’ve been through some difficult times in my life, which I’ve worked hard to move on from.
‘In that moment, seeing it there caught me off guard. I felt it was best to step away and gather myself.’
Thomas continued: ‘This had nothing to do with the interviews or Strictly itself. I’m sorry I picked up someone else’s phone and I don’t even know if the journalist realised their messages were visible, and I don’t want to suggest any bad intentions on their part.
‘What I do want to say is how excited I am to be part of Strictly this year. I’m so grateful for all the love, kindness and support I’ve been shown so far. It means the world to me, and I can’t wait to give it my all on that dancefloor. Bosh
Shortly before making his statement, Thomas failed to raise a smile as he was seen running errands in Borehamwood.
Thomas, who was casually clad in a polo shirt and shorts, kept his head down as he nipped into the shops to buy a bottle of water.
The father-of-three appeared to be feeling the strain as he grimaced while making his way back to Elstree Studios, where he was due to pre-record the Strictly launch show.
Despite his downtrodden demeanour, Thomas had just received the news that he will be remaining on the show.
The former Apprentice star, 34, shocked journalists on Tuesday when he grabbed a female reporter’s phone before storming out of the room after taking offence at being recorded
Amid growing backlash to axe him from the lineup, the BBC have stood by Thomas, with the Daily Mail revealing on Wednesday that he will be remaining on the show
The Daily Mail revealed bosses held crisis talks about the market trader’s future on the dance series following his behaviour at the media day, where he grabbed a female reporter’s phone before walking out after conducting just two promotional interviews.
When a journalist asked why Thomas had signed up for Strictly this year, he refused to answer and suddenly snatched her phone, appearing irritated that the interview was being recorded.
It’s believed the incident raised concerns over his conduct and Strictly chiefs, who are desperately trying to avoid controversy surrounding the recent scandal-hit series, demanded a full explanation surrounding his walk out.
The Strictly press team were unable to locate him at Elstree Studios, where the press launch took place.
Now the Daily Mail can confirm that Thomas will remain a part of this year’s Strictly lineup despite insiders revealing he wasn’t ‘coping’ during Tuesday’s press event.
A source close to Thomas told the Daily Mail: ‘He is definitely regretful over the way he behaved on Tuesday.
‘Thomas may have done other big shows on TV before, but he still feels new to this and especially the environment of a press day, where multiple journalists are asking questions.
‘While he has done Celebrity MasterChef and the Apprentice in the past, those shows are prerecorded and he wouldn’t have faced the same scrutiny he is with Strictly, he definitely felt out of his depth.
‘He had been enjoying the Strictly dance rehearsal before the press day begun and now, he hopes to focus on the dancing alone and can’t wait for the first live show.’
Yet despite having the Beeb’s backing, Thomas failed to raise a smile as he was seen running errands the morning after his press day tantrum
The father-of-three appeared to be feeling the strain as he grimaced while making his way back to Elstree Studios, where he was due to pre-record the Strictly launch show
Thomas’s signing has been criticised by liberal fans of the BBC show after he revealed his unlikely friendship with American Vice-President JD Vance
An insider added to Sun Online: ‘Tom clearly felt stressed and wasn’t coping with the press conference. He acted in a very strange manner and grabbed a phone, which isn’t like him.
‘After much discussion about whether he would be able to cope with the pressure of the series, it was decided that Tom was fine to stay on.
‘It’s a very embarrassing incident for him and he’s made it clear he just wants to crack on. The BBC are backing him.’
Thomas’s friend Adam Brooks, who is a media commentator on GB News, explained how the former Apprentice star has not been booted off Strictly.
Writing on X on Tuesday night, Adam said: ‘I spoke to him an hour ago and he’s still on the show.’
The Daily Mail has contacted Thomas and the BBC for comment.
Despite Tom remaining on the series, Pundit Arena claims there’s still a strong chance the former Apprentice candidate will be axed.
According to the site, he is now odds-on to exit the dance competition, a 60 per cent implied chance of being forced out of the lineup.
Former Apprentice candidate Thomas, pictured with Strictly co-star Dani Dyer’s actor father Danny, refused to answer questions about why he had signed up to the show at the launch
Thomas’s signing has been criticised by liberal fans of the BBC show after he revealed his unlikely friendship with American Vice-President JD Vance.
The pair connected via social media due to sharing similar political beliefs and Thomas was invited to attend a barbecue held by Vance while he was holidaying in the Cotswolds last month.
Thomas posted a snap of the pair together on Instagram and called it ‘a once in a lifetime’ event.
Writing on Instagram, he said: ‘Unreal night with JD and his friends and family. He was a proper gent. Lots of laughs and some fantastic food. A brilliant night, one to tell the grand kids about.’
He added: ‘I’m overdressed in my suit, but when the VP invites you to a BBQ, you don’t risk turning up in shorts [and] flip-flops.’
Thomas has previously posed up in a ‘Make America Great Again’ cap and endorsed Donald Trump, posting in November last year: ‘I love Trump. I think he is brilliant, that’s my opinion. I think it’s good he is back in charge, it will be good for the UK economy.’
Venting their fury on social media, some fans claimed giving Thomas, given his political leanings, a platform on Strictly was ‘inappropriate’ and even ‘dangerous’.
One user said: ‘Someone tell Strictly that being controversial isn’t cute, and platforming someone like Thomas Skinner at ANY time, but even more so in the current political climate, is inappropriate and dangerous.’
Thomas, who’s married to wife Sinead and has three children, says becoming a father taught him how to be a better man
Tom has spent the past few weeks getting in shape for the dance series, which he says is his mother’s ‘favourite show’.
The reality star insists he’s doing it for the ‘pint-drinking, kebab-eating dads out there with beer bellies’.
Before finding fame in 2011, Tom landed himself in trouble with the police for handling stolen goods.
He was charged with dishonestly handling 4,992 tubes of Body Shop cleansing gels worth nearly £40,000 and having 2,000 diazepam tablets.
In February, he brought up his past misdemeanours after coming under fire from trolls for witnessing a robbery at a Greggs.
He slammed the individuals for stealing while wearing designer clothes and furiously said ‘what’s happening’ to the state of the country, before social media users reminded him of his own criminal past and branded him a ‘hypocrite’.
Hitting back on X, he wrote: ‘Still finding it mad that people are actually having a go at me on Twitter because I pointed out that Greggs got robbed whilst I was in there. And then bringing up my past. Yes, I did get arrested when I was younger, in fact I got arrested several times. And been charged and paid the price for my convictions. I wrote a book about it.’
He continued: ‘I never had my own bedroom at one point when I was younger and slept on a pull-out bed on the floor.
‘I never had any money or had anything given to me on a plate, yet I turned my life around. I go around schools/colleges/universities telling my story hoping I can inspire others.’
He added: ‘I’m no hero. I’m just a hard worker. I’ve made mistakes, in fact more than most, who hasn’t made one? I now try to spread positivity. I’ve been stabbed when I was younger because of what I got up to and that’s why I try to help with my knife crime campaign at my gym.
‘People need to get in the real world and see that there is a problem in this country. And we can fix it if we stick together. Bosh.’
