Strictly Come Dancing’s launch event descended into chaos when Thomas Skinner stormed out, leaving fellow contestant Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to face the press alone.
The Apprentice star initially appeared relaxed and chatty at the BBC’s Elstree Studios on Wednesday before the situation turned suddenly. Eyewitnesses said Skinner grabbed a journalist’s phone, which was being used to record the interview, scrolled through it, and then abruptly walked out.
His unexpected exit left Hasselbaink fielding questions alone. “It was incredibly strange, and no one could quite work out what was happening,” one journalist said, adding that the room was left “bewildered” by the incident.
BBC staff told reporters that Skinner had to take a family call, but attendees said that explanation did not reflect the abruptness of his walkout or his actions with the phone.
The controversy has prompted BBC bosses to hold urgent meetings about Skinner’s future on the show. Concerns have been raised about the impact of his behaviour on what is intended to be a family-friendly programme.
The walkout also came just hours after BBC director-general Tim Davie defended Skinner’s casting while addressing MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport committee. He said production teams, not executives, decide the line-up, adding that contestants are chosen for their ability to engage audiences.
Strictly’s new series is set to launch next weekend, but the incident has left questions hanging over whether Skinner will remain part of the cast.