Strictly's Thomas Skinner breaks silence to reveal why stormed out and snatched phone

Thomas Skinner has broken his silence on social media after marking a first for Strictly Come Dancing and storming out of its roundtable interviews. The Apprentice star was being interviewed alongside the rest of the 2025 line-up by journalists at BBC's Elstree Studios on Tuesday afternoon when he suddenly stormed out.

The contestant grabbed a reporter's phone after being asked a question as they asked him to stop. He had arrived at the table of journalists with fellow contestant Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

While a female journalist had asked Skinner what had motivated him to sign up for Strictly, it felt the reality TV star realising that he was being recorded on a phone during the press event. "What's that?" Skinner demanded, before picking up the woman's phone and taking it from the table.

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The journalist asked him to answer the question. "He walked to the table with his head down, he sat down, grabbed one of the reporters phones, who told him to stop," an insider at the event has told the Mirror. "It was a shock. His reaction came out of nowhere."

Another source told us: "It was totally out of the blue. He was absolutely fine during the first interview. In good spirits and delighted and surprised to be there. Like a competition winner."

Thomas has now taken to Instagram to set the record straight. Taking to his stories on Wednesday morning, he wrote: "To set the record straight of the back of yesterday. During one of the interviews, a journalist placed their phone on the table to record the conversation.

"I happened to catch a glimpse of the screen and saw numerous messages - not about Strictly but about a personal story from my past. I've been through some difficult times in my life, which I have worked hard to move on from. In that moment, seeing it there caught me off guard. I felt it was best to step away and gather myself."

Skinner went on: "This had nothing to do with Strictly or the interviews themselves. I’m sorry I picked up someone else’s phone and I don’t even know if the journalist realised their messages were visible, and I don’t want to suggest any bad intentions on their part.

“What I do want to say is how excited I am to be part of Strictly this year. I’m so grateful for all the love, kindness and support I’ve been shown so far. It means the world to me, and I can’t wait to give it my all on that dancefloor. Bosh.”

The incident has reportedly left organisers furious and BBC bosses in talks over whether he should stay on the show. Earlier in the day, Skinner posted a cryptic tweet where he claimed that he 'can't be bought'.

Sharing a post with his fans, he said: "I’ve always stood up for the everyday person like myself, the people who graft, who work hard, provide for their families and who keep this beautiful country moving from all walks of life. I’m proud of my family. I love my kids. I love my wife. I support those around me, and I’ll always try to be a positive force in people’s lives.

"I cannot be bought. I won’t say things just to keep people happy like others do. I am not a weathercock who changes opinions to gain clout like others you see online or social media. I’ll say what I believe in, even when it’s not easy.

"Because that’s what we need more of in today’s world. I will never forget my roots, and I will never back down from standing shoulder to shoulder with the people who make this nation what it is. They can say and spread misinformation all they like about me to try and get me down. But it only makes me stronger. Love you all. Bosh."

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