BBC criticised for adding Trump-loving ex-Apprentice candidate to Strictly line-up
Thomas Skinner (BBC)
Thomas Skinner (BBC)
The BBC is being criticised for adding Trump-and-JD-Vance-loving ex-Apprentice candidate Thomas Skinner to its Strictly Come Dancing line-up.
On Thursday (14 August), the BBC Press Office announced on X that Thomas Skinner, who appeared on The Apprentice in 2019, is the tenth recruit for Strictly Come Dancing’s Class of 2025.
The post has received backlash, with trans journalist India Willoughby responding, “Someone has hacked your account.”
Another response joked, “April Fools was 134 days ago…”
🪩 From the boardroom to the ballroom, Thomas Skinner is the tenth new recruit for #Strictly Come Dancing's Class of 2025
— BBC Press Office (@bbcpress) August 14, 2025
More ➡️ https://t.co/E2HyjW2oiy pic.twitter.com/LbZpxeTn9a
“Meeting JD Vance and then getting announced for Strictly two days later,” another wrote of Skinner meeting the US vice president, who has recently come under fire for sharing a social media post about the trans community. Thomas Skinner described the meeting as a “once-in-a-lifetime” event.
Here is a pic of Me and Vice President @JDVance towards the end of the night after a few beers🍻 I’m overdressed in my suit, but when the VP invites you to a BBQ, you don’t risk turning up in shorts an flip-flops😂 Cracking night in the beautiful English countryside with JD, his… https://t.co/HQGtaIY6fD pic.twitter.com/QOkL813qoR
— Thomas Skinner ⚒ (@iamtomskinner) August 12, 2025
“Strange choice after all the right wing grifting he’s been doing recently,” another commented under the BBC’s post, while another wrote, “#Strictly is about celebrating diverse people of all backgrounds. A few scrolls down this persons account and the replies they get to their posts shows this is a pretty awful move from casting.”
In November last year, Skinner, who appeared on the fifteenth series of UK reality show The Apprentice in 2019, received backlash after he announced he was a Trump supporter.
“I love Trump I think he is brilliant, that’s my opinion. I think it’s good he is back in charge, it will be good for the UK economy,” he wrote on X, commenting on Trump’s success in the 2024 US presidential election and in response to David Lammy’s criticism of the president.
GLAAD’s Trump accountability tracker, which is monitoring Trump’s LGBTQ+ record and history including executive orders, legislative support, nominations and statements, has so far flagged more than 320 attacks on LGBTQ+ people and their rights. Included in his recent attacks is his elimination of the 988 suicide and crisis hotline for LGBTQ+ youth and targeting of major HIV prevention and treatment programs.
Alongside Skinner, Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison, Neighbours’ Stefan Dennis, Ellie Goldstein, who made history in 2023 as the first model with Down syndrome to appear on the cover of British Vogue, former England rugby union player Chris Robshaw, RuPaul’s drag Race UK star La Voix, British YouTuber George Clarke, EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal, Dani Dyer, the daughter of EastEnders actor Danny Dyer, actress Alex Kingston, Dutch football legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and former Team GB sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, who joined Gladiators in 2023, have also been announced for the 2025 series.
PinkNews has contacted the BBC for comment.
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