Strictly’s Thomas Skinner ‘sues BBC for “rigging public vote” to eliminate him first’ following affair scandal – after the controversial star pulls out of show’s live final

Strictly’s first eliminated star of 2025, Thomas Skinner is reportedly suing the BBC after claiming bosses ‘rigged’ the public vote to boot him off the show amid a flurry of negative headlines.

The Apprentice star, 34, had already been deemed a controversial signing due to his outspoken Right-wing views, but the storm only grew when he confessed to cheating on his wife Sinead just weeks after they tied the knot.

However despite viewers claiming to be left ‘traumatised’ by Thomas’ performance, he is said to be convinced that he can prove he received a larger share of the public vote, which should have saved him from the dance off.

Thomas and pro partner Amy Dowden, 35, scored a dismal 29 out of 80 over two shows and landed in the bottom two with former rugby player Chris Robshaw, who was eventually saved by the judges.

A source said: ‘The BBC is already facing a £7.5billion lawsuit from Do.na.ld. .T.ru.m.p – now Thomas, a friend of Vice President JD Vance, is taking them on too’.

The president filed a $10billion lawsuit against the corporation after the embattled corporation was found to have doctored his speech in a Panorama episode.

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Strictly’s first eliminated star of 2025, Thomas Skinner, 34, is reportedly suing the BBC after claiming bosses ‘rigged’ the vote to boot him off the show amid a flurry of negative headlines

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The Apprentice star had already been deemed a controversial signing even before he confessed to cheating on his wife Sinead (pictured with pro Amy Dowden)

They went on to tell The Sun: ‘Thomas is adamant he got a larger share of the public vote and believes he has the evidence to prove it.  He is determined to see it through, but there’s no way the BBC will take this sensational claim lying down. They’ll robustly defend any kinds of claims that the voting was rigged or fixed’.

‘He’s convinced the BBC was hell-bent on getting him out as soon as possible, no matter how many of his fans got behind him’.

Daily Mail have contacted Thomas’ representatives for comment.

A BBC spokesperson said: ‘Strictly Come Dancing’s public vote is robust and independently overseen and verified to ensure complete accuracy‘.

In October Thomas said he wished he ‘never went on Strictly Come Dancing’, as he has received ‘constant abuse’ following the revelation that he cheated on his wife.

The star has also pulled out of appearing in Saturday’s finale due to scheduling conflicts.

However, fans will be happy to know that Amy, who recently underwent a second mastectomy following a battle with breast cancer, will be in attendance.

Despite apparently suing the BBC, Thomas will be back for their Celebrity Apprentice Specials this Christmas.

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However despite viewers claiming to be left ‘traumatised’ by Thomas’ performance, he is said to be convinced that he can prove he received a larger share of the public vote

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A source said: ‘He’s convinced the BBC was hell-bent on getting him out as soon as possible, no matter how many of his fans got behind him’

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Thomas said he wished he ‘never went on Strictly Come Dancing’, as he has received ‘constant abuse’ following the revelation that he cheated on his wife (pictured together)

The businessman was one of the 16 candidates who took part in the process back in 2019, and despite failing to land Lord Sugar’s investment, he has gone on to have found a series of other successful ventures.

In the first of two festival specials, viewers will see Thomas break down in tears as he returns to the boardroom alongside the celebrity lineup, telling Lord Sugar that being on the show has ‘changed his life’.

Speaking about his Apprentice return, Thomas said: ‘It was a real honour. I loved doing Apprentice the first time and it was such a great experience.

‘It changed my life so much and to be asked back to the Children In Need celebrity version was a real honour, and I was so honoured to be there and help the team and the guys raise money for charity. It brought back such emotions being in the boardroom of how it changed my life.’

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Despite apparently suing the BBC, Thomas will be back for their Celebrity Apprentice Specials this Christmas

In the opening moments of the celebrity specials, Thomas became visibly emotional as he returned to Lord Sugar’s famous boardroom, and after filming the episodes, he admitted he didn’t expect to have such a reaction when he returned to the show.

He said: ‘No, never in a million years, no. But when I was there it just made me think back to when I was first sitting in that boardroom back in 2019… like I didn’t really have anything back then, before I had kids and before I built my businesses up really properly.

‘And I sort of sat and thought, “Wow, this experience all those years ago put me on the map really and made me successful I suppose, and opened so many doors for me,” so to sit back and help to do it for such a great cause like Children In Need was a proper honour.’