Amy Dowden has spoken out after her former Strictly Come Dancing partner Thomas Skinner swerved the final of the BBC series ahead of reports he was suing the broadcaster

Amy Dowden was left “gutted” that Thomas Skinner missed the Strictly Come Dancing final – as she was already dealing with personal heartbreak, she has today revealed.

The professional dancer, 35, was paired up with The Apprentice star on the BBC Saturday night favourite but they were the first couple eliminated from the competition.

Thomas had been due to join his fellow contestants in returning to the final, which saw Karen Carney and Carlos Gu, crowned as winners of the series. Thomas left Amy standing as he refused to take part in the group dance with his fellow co-stars.

This weekend it was reported that he would be ‘suing the BBC ‘ for rigged voting claims following his early exit from the BBC show. Amy has now revealed that Skinner reached out to her last week, but her “mind was elsewhere” anyway because she had just lost someone close to her.

During an appearance on Monday’s Lorraine, she told stand-in host Christine Lampard: “Last time I spoke to him was on Thursday, he didn’t mention it. He sent me some messages. But I was really upset on Thursday. I lost someone who was like a second dad to me, my dance teacher, he passed away on his wife’s birthday. Philip Perry. I owe my entire dancing career to him. So my mind was elsewhere but I’m just gutted that Tom missed out on what was an incredibly fun, exciting final. I’d have loved for him to be there.”