Strictly Come Dancing star Tom Skinner left everybody surprised when he walked out of the 2025 interviews at Elstree Studios.
I used to be within the room when he abruptly walked out throughout the interviews, and I am unable to say I used to be significantly shocked that he did. We have been all excited to talk to Tom, pondering he can be fascinating to speak to, and we have been eager to listen to his ideas on collaborating in Strictly, in addition to his ideas on free speech following the backlash to the announcement he can be on the present.
However when all the Strictly stars got here into the room at Elstree, plenty of them appeared thrilled to be there, with many smiling and waving and greeting journalists as they discovered their spots. However as Tom walked previous my seat, I could not assist however discover his perspective was on a really totally different stage to everybody else’s. He did not appear that completely happy to be within the room, and selected as an alternative to speak to fellow contestant Ellie Goldstein reasonably than deal with everybody within the room.
That is why it did not come as a lot of a shock when Tom walked out after solely finishing two interviews, with sources saying he had been left upset after he realised he was being recorded whereas sat on the desk, even taking a reporter’s cellphone earlier than they managed to get it again.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, with whom Tom was doing his interviews, was left to complete off the remainder of the interviews by himself, taking all of it in his stride. Once we requested why he was solo, the PR was fast to keep away from giving something away, with Jimmy making an attempt to easy issues over by asking, “Am I not sufficient for you?”
Sources on the occasion shared the BBC‘s workers’s frustration at Tom’s behaviour to Categorical.co.uk, particularly because the strain is on for a drama-free sequence after a string of scandals.
They revealed that workers desperately tried to encourage Tom again to finish the chats, within the hopes he would settle down, however Tom would not be reasoned with, leaving embarrassed workers pressured to apologise on his behalf.
However whereas Tom’s behaviour could be written off as merely an unprofessional second, I feel everybody would agree it does not bode properly for one of the best of the sequence, particularly as he was a controversial star to enroll anyway after bosses took a punt on him. It’s particularly an enormous kick within the tooth as simply moments earlier than, BBC boss Tim Davie was defending signing him up.
The BBC have been clearly hoping he can be a speaking level for this present, however I am guessing not earlier than the sequence has even began. Slightly than being about free speech, Tom appeared extra intent on being a diva who did not need to play ball, which is unquestionably not what bosses are off. So, here is hoping they provide him a stern speaking to and inform him to get his act collectively earlier than September 27.
