The BBC has issued a fresh statement following Tuesday’s Strictly Come Dancing incident involving The Apprentice star, Thomas Skinner.
During Tuesday’s press day for the show, it is alleged Mr Skinner, 34, stormed out of Elstree Studios while speaking to journalists ahead of the launch show.
Sitting next to his fellow co-star, former footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbank, Mr Skinner is understood to have become embroiled in had a small tussle with a journalist because she was recording the interview on her phone, a standard practice at press events.
Mr Skinner allegedly said: “What’s that?” before picking up the journalist’s phone from the table, prompting the woman to ask him: “What are you doing? Can you answer the question? We have only got three minutes. I’m just recording him.”
He eventually returned the reporter’s phone before leaving the room, declaring: “I’m not doing this.”
The BBC released a statement on Wednesday, with The Mirror reporting that a spokesman had said: “The BBC is very clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected will not be tolerated on our programmes.”
It follows a statement from a source on Tuesday who said: “This is exactly what Strictly did not need.
“With all the recent controversy, bosses wanted this series to be smooth sailing, but Thomas is already causing havoc.
“It’s unprecedented for a celebrity to walk out of the show’s media launch day, and bosses think it’s really bad form.
“If this is a sign of things to come, Strictly has a big problem.”
Mr Skinner took to social media just one day before the incident, raving he had the “best day” following his first day of dance rehearsals.
He penned on X: “I just had my first full day dancing with my dance partner for Strictly.
“Honestly had the best day, we did not stop laughing start to finish and I enjoyed the dancing more than I thought! All the other cast and contestants was fantastic to…. Can’t wait for you all to see me dancing.
“Honestly, I am properly enjoying it. Massively out of my comfort zone but trying my best!! Now it’s time for bath and bed….these two left feet have been burning up the dance floor!”
He later continued in a similar post: “Today was my first day dancing with my STRICTLY PARTNER!!! Honestly enjoyed it so much more than I thought and me and my partner did not stop laughing all day!
“It is such a good experience and I’m fully surrendering to Strictly.”
Bosses are understood to be having crisis meetings about whether Mr Skinner can stay on the show, according to the Mail.
The BBC had already received complaints about its decision to invite Mr Skinner onto the show following his meeting and friendship with Donald Trump’s Vice President, JD Vance.
The blossoming friendship formed over X (Twitter), where the Vice President applauded Mr Skinner’s posts regarding concerns he had about the UK.
BBC director-general Tim Davie defended the decision to cast the former Apprentice star just hours before the incident.
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He said: “That was not my decision, that was the production team looking for those people… who want to do Strictly, and those people they thought would be interesting to the audience.
“Clearly, we wouldn’t take anyone whose views are just beyond the pale, or we would see as completely unacceptable or not suitable, racist views, all those things, we wouldn’t accept them.
“But that’s not the case here, from what I know, I’m not an expert on the individual, per se.”
