EX-STRICTLY contestant Thomas Skinner is suing the BBC — claiming it rigged voting to get him off the show as quickly as possible.

The ex-Apprentice star, whose catchphrase is “Bosh”, says he has proof the Beeb downplayed his public support because of negative publicity.

Tom Skinner and Amy Dowden posing in dance attire with confetti falling.

Thomas Skinner, pictured with dance partner Amy Dowden, is suing the BBCCredit: BBC

Thomas Skinner and Amy Dowden, and Chris Robshaw and Nadiya Bychkova on stage at Strictly Come Dancing.

Thomas and Amy Dowden faced off against ex-England rugby star Chris Robshaw and pro Nadiya BychkovaCredit: PA

Tom Skinner and Amy Dowden performing a dance.

Thomas claims the Beeb rigged voting to get him off the show as quickly as possibleCredit: BBC
Thomas, 34, and pro Amy Dowden then fell into the bottom two and lost a dance-off.

He is boycotting tomorrow’s final, the last for hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly.

Last night a source said: “The BBC is already facing a £7.5billion lawsuit from Donald Trump – now Thomas, a friend of Vice President JD Vance, is taking them on too.”

Thomas, 34, was the first of 14 celebrities to be ousted in week two of the current series.

Read more on Thomas Skinner

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

The BBC never spells out how many public votes each star got, and Thomas claims to have proof it deliberately downplayed his tally.

‘Negative headlines’

The Beeb then announced his combined score meant he and pro Amy Dowden were in the bottom two dance-off.

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.

 

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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.

Strictly’s Amy Dowden breaks down in tears as she pays tribute to Thomas Skinner for ‘bringing back her confidence’ after cancer battle

“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.”

Pals say Thomas believes bosses wanted rid because of negative headlines.

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

Co-stars are said to be shocked by the fallout which casts a cloud on the exit of hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly.

Amber Davies, George Clarke and Karen Carney are battling it out for the Glitterball trophy.

Our source added: “Thomas was asked back but said, ‘There’s absolutely no chance’.

“He’s been locked in rows with bosses ever since he was sent home.

“He’s convinced the BBC was hell-bent on getting him out as soon as possible — no matter how many of his fans got behind him.”

The Sun understands Thomas believes the BBC was becoming unnerved about him being booked.

The source added: “The BBC needed this year to go without any hiccups after the past two series were dogged by drama.

“Thomas was hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons — a supposed right-winger seen to be cosying up to US politicians, grabbing a journalist’s phone and confessing to having an affair wasn’t exactly the tone Strictly was striving for.”

Ray Burmiston in a blue suit with an embellished jacket and brown loafers.

Thomas reportedly believes the BBC was becoming unnerved about him being bookedCredit: BBC

Reality television contestant Thomas Skinner and his wife Sinead sitting on a sofa during an interview.

Thomas’ wife Sinead, mum to their three kidsCredit: Louis Wood

A man sits on a couch, looking distressed.

Thomas admitted to cheating on his wife with ‘an attractive woman’ just weeks after they marriedCredit: Louis Wood
We told in September how he snatched the phone then stormed out of a Press event for the show.

In the same week, he broke down as he admitted to The Sun he had cheated on wife Sinead, mum to their three kids, weeks after their wedding.

A source said: “Thomas was under a lot of pressure from those who perhaps didn’t think he deserved a slot on Strictly.

‘Made of stronger stuff’

“It got too much for him and he snapped.

“He wasn’t sure if he could or should continue with the show, but he knows he’s made of stronger stuff and wanted to do it to inspire other normal blokes like him.”

Market stall-holder Thomas also faced death threats after meeting Vice President Vance in October, a month before Strictly started.

Vance got in touch after admiring Thomas’s motivational media posts.

The pair posed together at a barbecue in the Cotswolds.

Thomas later told The Sun: “Since I posted that picture I’ve had loads of death threats.

“People saying they want me dead, saying I am this political ­figure that I’m actually not.

“I couldn’t tell you what’s going on in the world right now.

A man in a blue suit and Gucci tie stands in a snowy scene with lit Christmas trees and a full moon, with Santa's sleigh visible in the background.

Thomas Skinner shot to fame on The ApprenticeCredit: BBC

Amy Dowden and Thomas Skinner performing on Strictly Come Dancing.

He was paired with Amy Dowden in the 2025 seasonCredit: PA

Thomas Skinner and Amy Dowden with Tess Daly after Skinner became the first celebrity to be voted off Strictly Come Dancing.

Thomas and Amy were the first to be eliminated in the live showsCredit: PA
“Now the Left seems to be attacking me every day on social media.

“The Right seems to see me as this figurehead and it’s all been a bit much for me, if I’m honest.”

His friendship with 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.

After his Strictly axing Thomas said: “I’ve loved it.

“I’ve never danced before and my stay was short, but Amy’s amazing.”

He told fans: “I’ve had enough of all this b*****ks.

“I can’t do anything right now without someone criticising me or making me do something against my will.

“It’s bulls**t.

“I wish I had never done Strictly, I never fitted the bill for that show let’s be honest.

“It’s caused me ­nothing but constant abuse like I’m a mass murderer.”

Thomas will star in BBC1’s Celebrity Apprentice Christmas ­special on December 29 and 30.

He is yet to comment on his no-show at the final or confirm legal action.

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He ignored speculation yesterday, telling fans he’d been up since 2am on his new seafood stall, Lairy Lobster, in Brentwood, Essex.

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

 

HOW VOTING WORKS

 

By Caroline Iggulden

JUDGES’ SCORES: Each gives the couples a mark out of 10, which are combined to create a leaderboard.

The couples are ranked, with points assigned.

The top pairing gets 10, the second gets nine, and so on, down to the bottom couple who gets one point.

Ties have specific rules that ensure no points are skipped, which can sometimes favour couples further down the leaderboard.

PUBLIC VOTES: A separate leaderboard is created from these, which is never published.

Points are assigned in the same way as the judges’ scores.

All votes were cast online or via the Strictly app for the first time this year.

COMBINED RESULT: The points from the two leaderboards are added.

The two couples with the lowest combined scores go into the dance-off.

Judges then decide who leaves.

GRAND FINAL: Judges’ scores are for reference only, with the winner decided entirely by the public.