The glittering ballroom of Strictly Come Dancing dimmed for Thomas Skinner, the first celebrity to exit this year’s dazzling series. Paired with the ever-resilient professional dancer Amy Dowden, the former Apprentice star was sent packing during Sunday’s dramatic results show. Despite their high-energy salsa to Dizzee Rascal’s Bonkers, the performance failed to sway judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, and Craig Revel Horwood, who unanimously chose to save rugby star Chris Robshaw.
Skinner, however, left the dancefloor with his head held high, describing his Strictly experience as a “great laugh” and praising Dowden as being in a “different class.” But behind the sequins and smiles, a storm of controversy is brewing, with claims that the duo was sabotaged by an ill-suited song choice that sealed their fate.
Former Strictly professional James Jordan, a beloved fixture on the show from 2006 to 2013, didn’t hold back when sharing his unfiltered thoughts with Express Online, in collaboration with Freebets.com. Jordan, known for his candid commentary, suggested that Skinner’s elimination was less about his dancing and more about the production’s choices. “I’m not saying it was a stitch-up, but he wasn’t given a very good song,” Jordan remarked. “The Strictly audience is generally older, and I didn’t even know what that song was—it’s one of the worst I’ve ever heard.”
Jordan argued that the high-octane, chaotic Bonkers was a poor fit for Skinner’s debut, setting him up for a struggle. “The whole thing felt a bit naff, really. I felt sorry for him. If he’d been given a beautiful waltz or something more traditional, he probably would’ve sailed through,” he added. Fans echoed this sentiment, with many taking to X to voice their suspicions of foul play. One viewer posted, “The song for Skinner… Oh, they want him out bad,” while another quipped, “Oh Thomas is being set up for a fall.”
The controversy doesn’t end with the music. Questions have also arisen about the pairing of Skinner with Dowden, who made a triumphant return to Strictly after her breast cancer diagnosis in 2023. Jordan weighed in on the challenges of celebrity-pro pairings, noting, “Amy is absolutely lovely, but when it comes to dancing style, ability, or choreography, maybe others on the show got stronger celebrities.” He acknowledged the heartbreak for any professional eliminated early, adding, “You want to stay in as long as possible, but having the best dancer doesn’t always make the series the most enjoyable.”
Dowden, 35, expressed her own disappointment at not getting to showcase a ballroom routine with Skinner. Reflecting on their journey, she said, “We’ve laughed so much and worked so hard. A glitterball would’ve been amazing, but what I’ve learned in the last few years is that happiness, health, and being alive are more important than anything.” Her words carry extra weight, given her inspiring recovery and return to the dancefloor.
As the Strictly spotlight moves on to the remaining contestants, Skinner’s exit has sparked a fiery debate about fairness, song selection, and the behind-the-scenes decisions that shape the competition. Was Thomas Skinner’s elimination a fair call, or was he doomed from the start by a controversial song choice? The ballroom may be full of glitz, but this backstage battle is proving to be just as dramatic.