BBC executives have reportedly conducted emergency meetings regarding Thomas Skinner’s future on Strictly Come Dancing before its upcoming launch. The announcement of The Apprentice star’s participation in the BBC dance competition initially sparked mixed reactions among fans.
The situation arose when he abruptly left an interview on Tuesday after seizing a reporter’s phone. Thomas Skinner declared to reporters, ‘I’m not doing this,’ before storming out of a roundtable interview with multiple journalists at the BBC’s Elstree Studios. The 34-year-old took a reporter’s phone while they were requesting him to stop.
Subsequently, discussions are underway among executives on whether the star, primarily recognized for his social media presence nowadays, should remain on the show. According to a source cited by DailyMail, this unexpected behavior from Thomas has disrupted the anticipated smooth progress of the series, causing concern among bosses.
The Mirror has contacted the BBC for a statement regarding the matter. Prior to Thomas’s departure from the interview, BBC boss Tim Davie, 58, addressed the decision to include Thomas in the new series during a session with the Culture, Media and Sport Committee.
Tim clarified that the selection of participants, including Thomas, was determined by the production team based on the individuals’ interest in participating and their potential appeal to the audience. He also responded to remarks made by presenter Narinder Kaur, who previously criticized the decision to cast Thomas on the show.
Regarding Narinder’s claims, Tim stated that he had not heard of her being rejected for the show due to being “too controversial.” He emphasized BBC Studios’ responsibility in proposing suitable candidates for the show and ensuring a balanced and engaging cast for the audience.
Tim emphasized that individuals with extreme or unacceptable views, such as racism, would not be considered for the show but indicated that this was not the case with Thomas. He highlighted the effort put into creating an outstanding show by the team responsible for selecting the participants.
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