The BBC has issued a blunt statement after Thomas Skinner’s post on social media.

Tom Skinner declared he was taking legal action against the BBC (Image: BBC)

The BBC has released a statement following Thomas Skinner’s series of claims regarding his experience on Strictly Come Dancing and the programme’s voting system. Thomas and Amy Dowden were the first pair eliminated after a dance-off against Chris Robshaw and Nadiya Bychkova. Critics questioned the decision to include Thomas due to his association with US Vice President JD Vance. Thomas had previously shared social media posts arguing it is ‘not far-right’ to be ‘flying your flag and loving your country’. He also described London as ‘hostile’ and ‘tense’, stating ‘it ain’t safe out there any more’.

In a statement shared on social media on Saturday morning, Thomas revealed he has obtained ‘legal advice’ regarding his premature departure from the show and alleged he received an ‘anonymous email’ on the evening of his elimination – which suggested he’d ‘received more votes than it appeared’, reports Manchester Evening News. He maintained that the email indicated the BBC was “very angry and nervous” following Tom’s meeting with USA Vice President JD Vance. Thomas further alleged that whilst cast members received welcome gifts for participating in the show, his was the only one to ‘get stolen’.

Thomas Skinner and Amy Dowden became the first to leave Strictly Come Dancing (Image: BBC)

The BBC has now refuted Thomas’ allegations, labelling them as completely baseless. A spokesperson for the BBC stated: “Strictly Come Dancing’s public vote is independently overseen and verified to ensure complete accuracy every week. Any claims to the contrary are entirely without foundation. Unfortunately, despite requests for it, Mr Skinner is yet to share the email he references with anyone from the BBC so we are unable to comment on it.”

Regarding a welcome gift, the spokesperson further clarified: “The Strictly Come Dancing production team categorically did not supply ‘welcome gifts’ to any of the cast.”

The Strictly Come Dancing public vote is independently verified by PromoVeritas. They issued a statement saying: “All votes are independently and comprehensively verified by two auditors. We can confirm that all votes received are validated. This has been the case every week.”

It is also understood that the BBC are not aware of any legal complaint in relation to this matter.

Thomas’ full post read: “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.”

The Strictly 2025 final aired – and Thomas was missing from it (Image: BBC)

Thomas subsequently claimed he received an ‘anonymous email’ on the evening of his elimination, which suggested he had ‘received more votes than it appeared’. He explained: “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.”

He went on to allege: “That same email mentioned the BBC was very angry and nervous simply because I had met JD Vance (USA VICE PRESIDENT). Let me be clear, I’m not a political bloke. Never have been. I just love my country and am patriotic. I’ve been made out by the press to be this political figure. If anyone was to get an opportunity like what I did, they would have taken it. I still think it is mad that a man like me who sells mattresses out of a van can call someone that senior in the world’s politics a friend now.”

The statement went on: “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)”.

The Corporation stated that the Strictly public vote is robust and independently overseen and verified.

In his post, Thomas continued: “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.

“I have been made out to be someone I actually am not simply because I took part in this show. The views were formed from media stories over the summer that simply wasn’t true or exaggerated. It ain’t fair what has happened to me and my family.”

He added in his statement: “I also want to say this carefully. After receiving this information and having it verified, a very senior BBC figure has since resigned. 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.”

Later in his post, Thomas stated that he ‘didn’t want any of this in the press’, alleging that ‘lot of what’s been written has been exaggerated or untrue’ and he’s ‘found it hard to take in over the past few months’. “This is my life, and it’s not nice what has been said about me if I’m honest. What I do find strange is that after a private Zoom call with BBC executives on Wednesday night about going forward, this was national news by Thursday morning. That tells me there’s been a leak. Because it ain’t come from me to be in the press. (It might be from the same person who sent me the email)…

“I didn’t want this to be national news, in fact I didn’t want any of this. But 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. I don’t want more stories being wrote that ain’t true. I’m not kicking off for attention. 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,” he said before signing off his post with his signature ‘bosh’.