Strictly Come Dancing viewers couldn’t help but express their feelings after Thomas Skinner made his debut in the 2025 launch show.
Skinner is best known for appearing on BBC’s The Apprentice in 2019, during which he was fired in week 9.
Since then, however, the TV personality has become known for more divisive reasons, such as his support for Republican US President Donald Trump and social media rants.
Ahead of the Strictly launch, he also stormed out of press interviews after grabbing a journalist’s phone and, just last week, gave a shocking interview in which he confessed to cheating on his wife, weeks after their wedding.
So, it’s probably no surprise that people have strong feelings about him taking part in this year’s dance show.
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And all that rage came to a head when Skinner’s professional partner was unveiled, as the first episode of the series confirmed he would be stepping out onto the ballroom floor with Amy Dowden.
The Welsh pro joined the Strictly fam in 2017 and has become a firm favourite among viewers, but she’s had anything other than an easy ride.
In May 2023, Dowden announced she had been diagnosed with grade 3 breast cancer. She underwent a mastectomy, and after being diagnosed with ‘another type of cancer’, she required chemotherapy.
Dowden, 35, was unable to take part in Strictly that year but had the full support of the cast and crew amid her recovery. In February 2024, she was overjoyed to share that she had ‘no sign of the disease’ in her body.
Consequently, she was well enough to return to Strictly in 2024, and was paired with JLS pop star JB Gill. However, disaster struck when she collapsed after a routine on a live show and had to be rushed to hospital.
Dowden later suffered another blow in the form of a foot injury, leaving her with no choice but to withdraw from the season, as Lauren Oakley replaced her.
After a turbulent year, she’s back for 2025, but viewers are calling for ‘justice’ for Dowden after she received the most controversial celeb partner possible for her big comeback.
Taking to X, @IAmJoshua_ declared that she ‘deserves better’ after ‘all she’s been through these last few years’.
‘Absolutely gutted for her’, wrote @MJ_JJ061215, while @SpainOnAPlate fumed: ‘Skinner with the beautiful Amy….. a disgrace.’
‘Honestly giving tom skinner to Amy just feels cruel’, argued @RachelCDailey, while @slinehan1 is keeping their fingers crossed’ that Skinner is eliminated early.
When Skinner and Dowden met for the first time ahead of launch night, they were all smiles.
They shared a hug as Dowden entered the room and greeted her new partner and immediately started to boogie.
‘I can’t dance,’ a nervous Skinner admitted to her.
Ever the optimist, Dowden reassured him: ‘Yeah, but it’s my job!’
Immitating his London accent and boisterous persona, she joked: ‘Right, what we’re gonna do, we’re gonna get in the studio, we’re gonna work hard, and we’re gonna impress those judges, right?’
When quizzed further on their partnership by host Claudia Winkleman, Skinner said he was ‘over the moon’ and branded Dowden a ‘legend’.
‘I hope you can teach me a few moves, because I’m useless at the minute,’ he added.
Skinner later took to social media with a video for his 711,000 followers, introducing them to Dowden, while she posted their official Strictly photo to her feed.
‘Tom is working so hard and is loving learning to dance ( more than he ever imagined). We are laughing lots too! Honestly Tom it’s been so lovely getting to know the really lovely, bubbly, full of life you this week. Thanks for a great week and so looking forward to our strictly journey ahead! Let’s do this. 💃🏼🕺’, her caption read.
Skinner commented in return: ‘Reallly really enjoyed training with you this week. You are honestly an amazing person and everything you have been through…. Shows how strong and inspiring you are. I promise I won’t let you down. I might not be the best dancer. But I promise I’ll be the hardest worker. Thank you for being so kind and lovely to me and I’ve enjoyed your company so much. I ain’t stopped laughing with ya. Can’t wait to get on that dance floor with ya next week. Bosh❤️’
While these two seem to be putting on a happy front, it remains to be seen how long their Strictly experience will last.
Strictly Come Dancing continues next Saturday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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