Thomas Skinner opens up about affair as he launches Strictly journey

Thomas Skinner has acknowledged a past affair as he prepares for his debut on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, telling the Daily Mail that the episode was painful for his wife and family but that they have since rebuilt their life together. The admission comes as Skinner, 34, has become one of the most talked‑about names in this year’s Strictly lineup, a season defined as much by backstage tensions and personal stories as by sequins and salsa. The fling occurred three years before he joined the competition, according to Skinner, weeks after he wed Sinead in 2022. Amy-Lucy O’Rourke, the aesthetician involved in the affair, later claimed to the Daily Mail that the relationship lasted roughly three months rather than a brief lapse, a dispute that has shadowed Skinner’s public path since.

Skinner described the disclosure as a moment of reckoning, telling the Daily Mail, “It was awful. I made a massive mistake.” He emphasized that while the mistake was his, its impact rippled through his wife and their children. He said the couple had already moved on from the event before he signed up for Strictly and that his life in the public eye has brought renewed scrutiny into a past they had tried to put behind them. “We had already moved on from this. I’m doing Strictly and I’m in the public eye now. My whole life has been dug up and regurgitated and my poor wife has to read something that she has moved on from,” he said. Skinner added that his wife, Sinead, has shown resilience, and that she’s insisted the episode wouldn’t break them apart. “She told me that she loves me to pieces and I love her,” he said.

The Daily Mail notes that Skinner and Sinead have remained in each other’s lives for the sake of their family, with the couple continuing to co‑parent their three children and to present a united front in public. Skinner has described the time since the revelation as a test of character, not only for him but for his wife. He has said that forgiveness was a process, requiring patience and mutual effort, and that the couple’s commitment to their family helped steer them through the storm. The two were recently seen together with their children at a meal, a scene Skinner framed as evidence that they have “moved on” and remain a team. He described Sinead as his “rock” and his best mate, someone who remains fully engaged in his Strictly journey and supportive of his work on the show.

The personal disclosures have underscored Skinner’s broader public image: a regular at Dino’s Cafe in Leyton, east London, and a familiar figure in the market-trade world that helped him build a work ethic and self-belief. Skinner first gained national attention as a contestant on The Apprentice in 2019, where his catchphrase “Bosh!” became a signature, and where he was known for his no‑nonsense, blue-collar persona. He has been open about his past, including a prior run‑in with the law for handling stolen goods during his market-trading days, and he has been outspoken about his traditional, centre‑right views. Those views have connected him with political figures and pundits, though he says he does not consider himself a politician and attempts to keep his focus on his family and his career.

As his Strictly chapter looms, Skinner has been preparing in earnest. He has been training with professional partner Amy Dowden, who himself has faced health challenges and discipline on the show—Dowden was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago and had to withdraw from a performance last season after collapsing during a routine. Skinner says he wants to be a reliable partner for Dowden, to honor her perseverance and to deliver a memorable season for both of them. He notes that his goal is not just to please the judges or voters but to give his family a reason to celebrate: he wants to make his daughters Roma and Darla, born in June 2023, and his son Henry, now four, proud.

Skinner’s path into Strictly has also been shaped by the realities of reality television. He acknowledges that his wife’s support is essential, and he has been mindful of the man he wants to be on screen. He says his upbringing—rising from a working-class background to build a public profile—has taught him the value of perseverance, which he applies to his training regimen. He arrived at the studio in Elstree with a tan, a new diet, and a determination to take the show seriously. He has shed weight and improved his fitness, reporting that he has trimmed down by a noticeable amount and that he expects to continue pushing himself to perform at a high level throughout the competition. His opening dance is set to be a Spanish paso doble, and Dowden has nicknamed him “El Matador” for his fierce, high-energy style.

Skinner has also framed his Strictly journey as a chance to demonstrate personal growth. He has said that he is “the underdog” in this year’s lineup, entering the competition with no formal dance training and carrying some old rugby-related injuries. Yet he has insisted that he will give “110 percent” in training and performances, a mantra he has applied since his early days working the market stalls. He has spoken about the grind of long days spent rehearsing—from 6 a.m. until late in the evening—and about his plan to balance the show with his work delivering mattresses in his van on Saturdays before he heads to the studio.

The show’s recent casting has included dramatic changes, such as Dani Dyer’s withdrawal due to injury and Amber Davies stepping in as her replacement. Skinner acknowledged the disappointment for Dyer and noted that the show must go on, with new dancers stepping into the breach to keep the competition fresh. He described his colleagues as “all lovely,” emphasizing the camaraderie behind the scenes and the support that siblings in a high-pressure TV environment can offer one another.

In discussing his social-media presence and public profile, Skinner has emphasized that his values center on family and practical resilience. He has expressed gratitude for the public’s interest in his journey, while also noting that his wife’s response to his decision to join Strictly has mattered more than any immediate fame. He said his mother is “absolutely buzzing” that he is on the show, and he recounted the moment he invited her to the launch, when she worried about taking time off her call-center job. He said she has not missed an episode since high‑lighting his career and that her support has been a source of strength for him throughout this process.

While his Strictly arc is just beginning, Skinner has already used his platform to convey a straightforward message: he is committed to making his family proud while competing at the highest level of a show that has become a national institution. He wants to prove that his roots and his relentless work ethic can translate into success on the ballroom floor, and he hopes to show viewers that personal fault can be acknowledged, forgiven, and lived with in a way that strengthens the people closest to him. As he puts it, the journey is about more than a dance routine; it is about building a future that his children can look up to, one step at a time.