Strictly fans are outraged as ex-Apprentice star Tom Skinner joins the line-up after boasting of beers with US VP JD Vance, sparking calls to boycott the BBC show
The BBC’s latest Strictly Come Dancing casting has sparked a wave of fury online, after former Apprentice star Tom Skinner was announced as part of this year’s line-up.
The 32-year-old Romford-born entrepreneur once known for his cheeky charm on reality TV, has since built an entirely different kind of profile. His no-nonsense videos on social media platform X which covered business tips, political rants, and hot takes on everyday life have attracted hundreds of thousands of followers.
Earlier this year, his career took a surreal turn when he struck up a friendship with US Vice President JD Vance, Donald Trump’s running mate. The two first connected online after Skinner revealed he’d received death threats for his patriotic posts. Vance reached out in support, and soon the unlikely duo met in person.
In what he described as a “once-in-a-lifetime” moment, Skinner shared “barbecue and beers” with Vance in the English countryside, later posting: “When the vice president of the USA invites you for a barbecue, you say yes. Unreal night… one to tell the grandkids about.”
However, the BBC’s decision to give him a prime-time dancefloor slot hasn’t gone down well with some Strictly fans.
One wrote online: “Absolutely disgusting booking. Shameful BBC. Platforming this bloke, who is mid-pivot to right-wing mouthpiece, in the current climate? Absurdly stupid.”
A second added: “What’s that you hear?? Oh… it’s the sound of the bottom of the barrel being scraped.”
A third ranted: “Seriously, Strictly, WTF is this signing?! Embarrassing.”
A fourth put: “Can we please stop giving this grifter a platform. Is this the best the BBC could come up with? Execrable.”
A fifth typed: “This is so insane that I honestly thought it was a parody. What the actual fuck.”
Whereas another scribed: “I really like Strictly, I watch it every year. Let me know when this person has been booted out and I’ll watch again.”
The BBC has yet to respond to the backlash, but it’s safe to say Tom Skinner’s Strictly journey is already proving controversial.
Have you joined Threads? Follow Daily Star to keep up to date on all things showbiz here
Want all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter
