The former Apprentice star was the first to be voted out of this year’s Strictly

Former Apprentice contestant Thomas Skinner is understood to be taking legal action against the BBC, alleging the broadcaster manipulated voting to ensure his swift removal from Strictly Come Dancing.

The 34-year-old market trader, famous for his “Bosh” catchphrase, maintains he possesses evidence that the corporation deliberately understated his public vote tally due to unfavourable press coverage

Mr Skinner and professional partner Amy Dowden were eliminated in week two after landing in the bottom two and losing their dance-off.

He is refusing to attend this weekend’s final, which marks the last show for presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly.

Thomas Skinner was the first to be eliminated from BBC Strictl

A source told The Sun: “Thomas is adamant he got a larger share of the public vote and believes he has the evidence to prove it.”

The BBC told GB News when approached about the claims: “Strictly Come Dancing’s public vote is robust and independently overseen and verified to ensure complete accuracy.”

Mr Skinner became the first celebrity eliminated from the current series, departing during the second week of competition alongside 13 other contestants.

The scoring system combined judges’ marks from the opening fortnight with public voting results, though the BBC does not disclose individual vote tallies for each participant.

Thomas Skinner took part in this year’s BBC Strictly | BBCHe and Ms Dowden accumulated 29 points from the judges across their two performances, facing former England rugby player Chris Robshaw and his partner Nadiya Bychkova, who had secured 30 points.

All four judges opted to send Mr Skinner home, leaving Ms Dowden in tears.

Friends of the contestant say he remains convinced that BBC executives were determined to remove him because of negative publicity surrounding his participation.

A source told the publicaiton: “He’s been locked in rows with bosses ever since he was sent home.”

Thomas Skinner bowed out of Strictly with Amy Dowden this year | BBC

The controversies surrounding Skinner began before his elimination, including an incident in September when he grabbed a journalist’s phone and walked out of a press event for the programme.

During the same week, he confessed to The Sun that he had been unfaithful to his wife Sinead, mother of their three children, shortly after their wedding.

The former Apprentice star also received death threats following a meeting with US Vice President JD Vance in October, a month prior to Strictly’s launch.

Mr Vance had reached out after admiring Skinner’s content online, and the pair were photographed together at a Cotswolds barbecue.

Thomas Skinner has threatened to sue the BBC

 | BBCMr Skinner also told The Sun: “Since I posted that picture I’ve had loads of death threats. People saying they want me dead, saying I am this political figure that I’m actually not.”

Mr Skinner’s attitude towards his Strictly experience has shifted dramatically since claiming to have discovered evidence of fixing.

He told fans: “I’ve had enough of all this b*****ks. I can’t do anything right now without someone criticising me or making me do something against my will.”

Thomas Skinner and his wife Sinead | INSTAGRAMThe 34-year-old expressed deep regret about participating, stating: “I wish I had never done Strictly, I never fitted the bill for that show let’s be honest. It’s caused me nothing but constant abuse like I’m a mass murderer.”

Despite the dispute, Mr Skinner will appear on BBC1’s Celebrity Apprentice Christmas special, airing on 29 and 30 December.