Skinner fires back at Levy as Dowden’s Strictly return draws mixed reactions

Thomas Skinner publicly urged BBC Look North presenter Peter Levy to stick to the autocue after Levy commented that he felt sorry for Amy Dowden ahead of her return to Strictly Come Dancing with Skinner. The exchange unfolded on X on Saturday, as Dowden prepared to rejoin the show following health setbacks, including a grade 3 breast cancer diagnosis reported earlier in 2023. Levy, who covers national news on Look North, posted expressed sympathies for Dowden, prompting Skinner to respond with a pointed rebuke.

Taking to X on Saturday evening, Levy joined a chorus of negative reactions to the pairing, which comes after Skinner admitted to cheating on his wife shortly after their wedding with a woman he met in a pub. In a response that drew wide attention, Skinner wrote: "Don’t feel sorry for Amy, Peter. She is an incredible woman, a fighter, and we’re gonna have a great time together on Strictly. In fact we haven’t stopped laughing." He added: "Maybe instead of making daft digs at me, you should be cheering on a brilliant dancer who’s beaten bigger battles that you and I have had to face."

Levy replied on Sunday, backpedaling somewhat from the personal tone of the original post but reiterating his stance on the partnership. The Essex-based businessman, who spent part of the day engaging with online trolls, wrote: "Hello Thomas, I am sure you are going to do a great job and will be a top partner. I wish you both well in the competition. I’ll stick with the autocue."

Fans reacted with disappointment to the Dowden-Skinner pairing, especially given Dowden’s long-awaited return to the show after health setbacks. On social media, viewers expressed concern about the choice of partner: "You deserved better," one wrote, while another commented, "I am gutted she’s got him on her first year back." A third post added: "You look amazing Amy. Great to see you back. So sorry you got the short straw with him though."

Skinner has faced intense scrutiny since confirming his involvement in Strictly, including speculation after he stormed out of a Strictly press event in September. Levy has previously admitted disappointment with the decision to pair Skinner with Dowden for this year’s series. Dowden, a Welsh ballroom professional, returns to the BBC show on a full-time basis after an injury previously curtailed her return in 2024.

Beyond the Strictly spotlight, the cluster notes highlight Skinner’s off-screen history, including his admission of infidelity shortly after his wedding. He has acknowledged a two-week fling with a woman he met in a pub, and media reports from the period described a longer, more complicated situation involving a woman named Amy-Lucy O’Rourke, who suggested in interviews that the relationship lasted several months. Levy’s ongoing commentary around the pairing comes as Dowden continues her comeback journey, sharing messages about resilience and perseverance ahead of the show’s early episodes.

As the series launches, viewers will be watching not only for the dance floor performances but also for how the cast navigates the backdrop of personal histories and public scrutiny. The BBC has not released any changes to the lineup, and the press attention around Skinner and Dowden’s partnership underscores the broader cultural moment surrounding reality competition shows, where personal narratives often intersect with entertainment value and fan expectations.