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Thomas Skinner’s high-profile claims of vote rigging on the BBC’s popular dance competition, Strictly Come Dancing, appear significantly undermined following the emergence of independent viewer poll data. The former Apprentice contestant had previously threatened legal action against the broadcaster, alleging that his departure from the show was orchestrated through manipulated public voting figures. This new information directly challenges his assertions.
Skinner, 34, initiated his challenge after his exit, stating he received an anonymous email purportedly from a BBC executive. This email, he claimed, contained statistics suggesting he had secured a far greater number of votes than publicly indicated, leading him to believe the outcome was unjust. He maintained that he had independently verified the authenticity of this email, prompting him to seek legal counsel over what he described as unfair treatment.
However, an extensive independent exit poll, conducted by the website Strictly Spoiler, presents a starkly different picture. The survey, which gathered responses from 125,000 viewers concurrently with the official voting period, indicated that Skinner garnered a mere 1.4 per cent of the public vote. This figure would have placed him at the bottom of the leaderboard, providing what sources close to the poll described as “clear evidence of his unpopularity” and “cold, hard facts” refuting any conspiracy.
The BBC, in line with its established policy for such programmes, does not publicly release detailed voting statistics. The broadcaster asserts that an independent firm, PromoVeritas, rigorously supervises and verifies all public votes to ensure accuracy. This policy is partly attributed to the BBC’s duty of care towards its participants, aiming to protect them from the potential pressures and scrutiny associated with detailed public vote disclosure.
Beyond the voting allegations, Skinner also claimed that the BBC harboured “anger and nervousness” regarding his participation, attributing this sentiment to his meeting with US Vice President J.D. Vance. He clarified that he is not a political figure but a patriotic individual who took a unique opportunity. This alleged political discomfort, he suggested, might have influenced his treatment on the show.
Skinner further stated that he requested access to the official voting figures to corroborate the data he received in the anonymous email but was denied, being informed that such figures are historically not disclosed. He also revealed that it was the BBC’s own welfare team who, after hearing his concerns about the email, advised him to seek legal advice due to the perceived unfairness of the situation.
Despite Skinner’s assertions, BBC insiders have confirmed that no formal legal correspondence has been received from him to date. Many within the Corporation reportedly expressed disappointment over his public outbursts, particularly given the extensive support and duty of care provided to him throughout his time on Strictly Come Dancing, including during various controversies he encountered.
In recent statements, Skinner has adopted a more tempered stance, telling the Mirror that while he believes the poll’s information is “not accurate,” the matter “doesn’t materially matter to me now, and I’m not looking to contest this publicly.” He also issued a social media statement affirming, “I don’t hate the BBC… I’m not looking for conflict. I just want to get on with my life.”
A BBC spokesperson unequivocally stated, “Strictly Come Dancing’s public vote is independently overseen and verified to ensure complete accuracy every week. Any claims to the contrary are entirely without foundation.” They added that Mr. Skinner has yet to share the anonymous email he references, despite requests, preventing the BBC from commenting on its content.
PromoVeritas, the independent firm responsible for verifying the public vote, reinforced this position. A representative confirmed, “All votes are independently and comprehensively verified by two auditors. We can confirm that all votes received are validated. This has been the case every week and we have reported no issues with the public vote or how it is being represented in the final results.” These statements collectively underscore the BBC’s confidence in the integrity of its voting process.
