Strictly star Thomas Skinner’s firm still owes £50k Covid loan, despite pandemic-era turnover claims

The Fluffy Pillow Company, run by Essex businessman Thomas Skinner, has not repaid a £50,000 Covid Bounce Back Loan, five years after it was issued to support small businesses during the pandemic. The loan, maxed at £50,000, was intended to be repaid starting 12 months after it was granted. Accounts filed with Companies House show the debt as outstanding in both 2021 and 2022, with no record of any repayment to date. The government’s loan scheme was designed to provide relief to businesses adversely affected by Covid-19, but the ongoing balance raises questions about the fate of the company and its finances. The Daily Mirror has reported on the outstanding debt, noting that the firm’s accounts list the £50,000 liability without a corresponding repayment schedule or cleared balance.

The public profile of Thomas Skinner, a former The Apprentice contestant who has since become a Strictly Come Dancing contestant, has been marked by controversy over his business dealings and personal life. Skinner has publicly touted pandemic-era profits from his ventures, including the Fluffy Pillow Company and a related business named Bosh Beds. In a series of interviews and social media posts, he claimed that both firms benefited from the surge in demand during lockdown, with Skinner saying the pandemic period enabled rapid growth for his ventures. He has also described personal finances and lifestyle changes tied to that period, including a move into a new home and a luxury car purchase, as part of the broader narrative about business growth during the pandemic.

During the pandemic, Skinner highlighted what he described as strong turnover for his businesses. He claimed that Bosh Beds was generating substantial sales, with reports that the company was taking about £130,000 a week in sales by 2021 and employing 14 staff. In December 2021, he publicly boasted that he had turned over £1.8 million in a year with Bosh Beds. Those statements come under scrutiny as the same period shows the unrelated government loan remained unpaid, prompting questions about how cash flows were managed and reported across the two ventures. The Daily Mail and other outlets have noted the discrepancy between public claims of high turnover and the lack of evidence of loan repayment in the official accounts.

Skinner’s broader public profile has become a focal point for discussion around his role on Strictly Come Dancing. Reports indicate that executives have been navigating how to respond to his social media activity, with insiders suggesting that while he is not BBC staff and there is limited leverage to discipline his public posts, production teams are monitoring the situation. The controversy surrounding his personal life, including revelations about his relationship, has intensified scrutiny of his participation on the show. Despite the ongoing scrutiny, insiders indicate that Skinner is unlikely to exit the competition early, in part because public interest in controversial figures can help ratings at the outset, especially when paired with a favored dance partner.

The Daily Mail has contacted Skinner’s representatives for comment, but as of the latest reporting, there has been no confirmation of repayment or new information about the status of the Fluffy Pillow Company’s debts. In the meantime, Companies House has issued four notices to liquidate the company, signaling a formal response to the unresolved debt and the company’s ongoing financial difficulties. The situation underscores broader questions about the long-term outcomes for small businesses that benefited from Covid-era relief programs while publicly asserting strong post-pandemic growth.

As the story continues to unfold, observers will be watching for any official statements from Skinner, the companies involved, or regulatory authorities regarding the debt, potential restructuring, or liquidation proceedings, as well as any impact on his television appearances and public-facing business ventures.