Thomas Skinner alleges BBC rigged Strictly vote; BBC denies and scrutiny continues

Thomas Skinner, a former contestant on Strictly Come Dancing, claims the BBC rigged the public vote that eliminated him from this year’s series. He alleges that on the night he left, an anonymous email purportedly from a BBC executive contained statistics showing he had received far more votes than were publicly tallied. The claim has emerged as Skinner faces reports that he is pursuing legal action against the broadcaster over the vote.

The BBC rejected the accusation, saying the public vote on Strictly is independently overseen and verified to ensure complete accuracy. A spokesperson emphasized that the process is designed to be transparent and robust, and they said any contrary claims are without foundation. PromoVeritas, the company that verifies the show's public vote, stated that all votes it receives are validated and independently verified by two auditors.

It is understood the BBC is not aware of any legal complaint over the matter. Skinner, who was the first celebrity contestant to be voted out this series, said ahead of Saturday’s final—the show typically sees former contestants return—that he would not attend. In a post on X, he said he had spoken with his dance partner to ensure her wellbeing and that he wanted people to know the truth about his absence, adding that he did not want people to think he was bitter.

Skinner claimed the authenticity of the alleged email from a BBC executive had been independently verified, though he did not specify how that verification occurred. He said he had asked to see the official voting tallies to back up the numbers he was sent in the email but was told they could not be shown to him, a stance he described as unprecedented in the show’s history. He also referenced smaller grievances, such as a welcome gift reportedly being stolen, as part of what he called the atmosphere of unfairness surrounding his exit.

The BBC’s response to Skinner’s claims noted that he had not shared the purported email with anyone at the broadcaster despite requests for it, making it difficult for the network to comment. They reiterated that the Strictly team did not supply “welcome gifts” to any cast member. The tenor of the debate has put renewed attention on the show’s voting mechanics and how disputes are handled publicly.

Skinner’s public career includes appearances on The Apprentice in 2019 and stints on 8 Out of 10 Cats, Michael McIntyre’s Big Show, Good Morning Britain, and Celebrity MasterChef. He is also slated to appear on Celebrity Apprentice this Christmas. He has been a frequent voice in his social media videos promoting a positive outlook, a branding move that has drawn both support and criticism. In recent months, he faced scrutiny for meeting Donald Trump’s vice-president and for wearing a MAGA cap, a reminder of the political conversations that often intersect with entertainment figures. Skinner has stressed that he is not a political person, framing himself as patriotic and focused on his country. A private Zoom call with BBC executives regarding future steps reportedly leaked and became national news the following day, further fueling the dispute around what happened during the vote and in the days that followed.