From market trader with a criminal past to TV star dining with Donald Trump’s VP, Tom Skinner’s journey takes a glittering turn as he joins Strictly Come Dancing
Former The Apprentice contestant Tom Skinner has been announced as one of the newest celebrities stepping onto the glittering Strictly Come Dancing dancefloor, but his journey to the BBC ballroom has been anything but ordinary.
The 32-year-old Romford-born entrepreneur, now best known for his booming pillow and mattress business, first found fame on the 2019 series of The Apprentice. His larger-than-life personality, cheeky Essex charm, and relentless work ethic made him a fan favourite, even though he bowed out in week nine.
But before the TV appearances, the business successes, and the celebrity connections, Skinner’s life took a very different turn. In 2016, aged 24, he was charged with handling stolen goods worth almost £40,000 after buying 4,992 tubes of Body Shop cleansing gel and 2,000 diazepam tablets from what he later admitted was an “unreliable source”.
Speaking about the incident, Skinner has insisted he’s a “changed man”.
He said in a previous interview with Daily Mail: “Many years ago before I had my business, I was young and naive and bought stock from someone I didn’t know.
“I wasn’t aware the stock was stolen and paid the consequences for the mistake I made. That is now well in my past, I’ve had a string of successful companies since then. I am a changed man.”
BBC bosses were reportedly aware of Skinner’s past when casting him for The Apprentice, with thorough background checks carried out before contestants face Lord Sugar in the boardroom.
Since then, his career has taken off in unexpected ways. Known for his straight-talking videos on social media platform X, Skinner’s posts about business, politics, and everyday life have attracted hundreds of thousands of followers. They also led to a surreal friendship with none other than US Vice President JD Vance, Donald Trump’s running mate.
Earlier this year, Skinner described sharing “barbecue and beers” with Vance in the English countryside as a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience.
He wrote: “When the vice president of the USA invites you for a barbecue, you say yes. Unreal night… one to tell the grandkids about.”
The pair had first connected online after Skinner complained of receiving death threats and abuse over his patriotic posts. Vance responded with words of support, and the unlikely friendship soon moved offline.
Skinner has also used his own story to encourage others with learning difficulties to chase big opportunities as he has dyslexia. He admitted: “I can’t even fill out a form, but it didn’t matter. The Apprentice changed my life. If you’re thinking of applying for something, do it, one million percent.”
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