It was all over before you could say “bosh”. Tom Skinner, the controversial businessman and former Apprentice contestant, has become the first celebrity to be voted off this year’s Strictly Come Dancing. After the audience vote had been added to the judges’ Week One and Week Two scores, Skinner and his professional partner, Amy Dowden, faced former England rugby captain Chris Robshaw and dancer Nadiya Bychkova in the Sunday night dance-off. All four judges opted to save Robshaw and Bychkova.
It closes an ignominious chapter in Strictly’s increasingly chequered recent history and no doubt BBC execs will be secretly breathing a sigh of relief that Skinner has gone. Not so long ago, Skinner was a cult figure on social media, beloved for his spectacular breakfasts and “grafting” philosophy. However, in recent months his populist right-wing views have made him a figure of opprobrium online. Revelations of an affair and an incident in which he stormed off during a pre-Strictly media appearance further soured the atmosphere. Del Boy had become a naughty boy.
On one hand, it’s a relatively uncontroversial decision. Skinner was easily among the bottom two celebrity dancers, along with morning TV host Ross King, and the only thing that might have saved him from tonight’s dance-off was a concerted effort by those who sympathise with his political views. It would appear that did not happen (another sigh of relief in W1A there). Instead it appears that viewers chimed more with King’s limited but sincere waltz and saved him from the dance-off. Had they not, Skinner might have been saved by the judges.
The fallout, however, could turn sour. It seems a certainty that Skinner’s off-screen behaviour and reputation has done for him. Even among those who may have a certain amount of sympathy for his thoughts on immigration and national pride, Strictly fans never like to see the programme dragged into ugliness. The tone is sweetness and light, good family fun, uplifting and joyous. It’s not all Skinner’s fault, but the circus around him was unedifying. It’s difficult to see how Skinner’s baggage could compete with the uncomplicated wholesomeness of Ellie Goldstein and Vito Coppola. Or with Alex Kingston revealing she is making packed lunches for Johannes Radebe. Or with Balvinder Sopal talking about her nieces.
It was touching to hear Dowden’s heartfelt tribute to Skinner, who she called “a friend for life”, and it was a reminder that the Essex wideboy was supposed to bring a barrel of fun to proceedings, not controversy. Dowden will have regrets, however. She admitted on the show that it was a shame that Skinner did not get a chance to dance ballroom – and it is not a coincidence that Robshaw and King this week danced waltzes. Neither displayed much technique, but they showed sincerity. And that counts for a lot.
Host Tess Daly with Thomas Skinner, Amy Dowden, Chris Robshaw and Nadiya Bychkova – Guy Levy/BBC
Dowden instead chose to lean into Skinner’s literal strength – their routine had four lifts – and showmanship. What we got was a bizarre spectacle, with Skinner coming over more Ibiza Final Boss than the “ballroom boy” Dowden had described. Skinner needed to win the doubters over with a show of vulnerability. His ‘avin-it-large salsa did quite the opposite.
The whole episode feels a little grubby and many will be delighted to move on from it all. However, there is also a sense of missed opportunity – what kind of journey could Skinner have gone on, both as a dancer and as a public figure? Instead, any dialogue and understanding that could have occurred between him and those who were desperate to shoot him down has been left in the dust. Next week is Movie Week, so there shouldn’t be any controversy there. Oh, apart from the West End musical star performing to The Sound of Music…
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