Former 'Strictly Come Dancing' Contestant Claims Voting Was Rigged, Case May Go to Court

The claims have cast a shadow over the series finale, with tensions escalating behind the scenes, the contestant now refusing to take part in the final group dance, and the broadcaster denying any wrongdoing.

A former contestant on "Strictly Come Dancing" has accused the BBC of rigging the public vote — a claim that could soon be tested in court. The allegation centres on the belief that producers manipulated the result to force his early exit from the competition.

The controversy has thrown a shadow over this year's series, particularly ahead of the final — the last for long-time hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly.

The celebrity at the centre of the row, who was the first to be eliminated this season, has refused to appear in the show's Class of 2025 performance.

Shortly after his departure, Thomas Skinner came come forward, alleging that the show deliberately downplayed his popularity with viewers. The 34-year-old market trader and former "Apprentice" star, known for his signature catchphrase "Bosh," said he has evidence to support the claim.

Allegations of Manipulated Results

Skinner and professional partner Amy Dowden were eliminated in week two after their combined total of 29 judges' points put them into the bottom two.

They faced off against Chris Robshaw and Nadiya Bychkova, who had earned 30 points, but all four judges voted to send Skinner and Dowden home — a decision that left the latter in tears.

As tensions escalated behind the scenes, Skinner declined to appear in the grand final, marking a clear break with the show.

The BBC does not release public vote figures, but Skinner claims he received a much larger share than suggested and that the broadcaster wanted him off the show because of a wave of negative publicity.

Mounting Controversy

Skinner's departure followed a series of incidents that drew headlines. In the weeks leading up to his elimination, he admitted to having cheated on his wife, grabbed a journalist's phone at a press event, and was linked to American Vice President JD Vance after the two posed for a photo at a barbecue.

He later said the image prompted death threats and accusations of being a political figure. The former "Strictly Come Dancing" contestant added:

"Now the Left seems to be attacking me every day on social media. The Right seems to see me as this figurehead and it's all been a bit much for me, if I'm honest."

The BBC was reportedly concerned about Skinner's growing media presence and wanted this series to avoid further controversy after two turbulent seasons. "He's convinced the BBC was hell-bent on getting him out as soon as possible — no matter how many of his fans got behind him," one insider claimed.

Boycott of the Final

As tensions escalated behind the scenes, Skinner declined to appear in the grand final, marking a clear break with the show. His no-show comes at a sensitive time for the programme, which is preparing to say goodbye to both Winkleman and Daly after a long run as co-hosts.

The decision has surprised many of his fellow contestants, with some reportedly shocked by the fallout. Finalists Amber Davies, George Clarke, and Karen Carney will now compete for the Glitterball trophy amid a media storm.

Legal Action and Public Fallout

Although he has not yet formally confirmed legal proceedings, Skinner is reportedly considering action and believes he has the documentation to make a case. A source close to the matter said he is "adamant" that producers intervened in the voting process. However, a BBC spokesperson responded:

"'Strictly Come Dancing''s public vote is robust and independently overseen and verified to ensure complete accuracy."

How the 'Strictly' Voting System Works

The format combines judges' scores and a public vote, both of which are used to rank couples on separate leaderboards. Points are then assigned — ten to the top couple, one to the bottom — and the totals are combined.

The bottom two couples enter a dance-off, where the judges decide who stays. Only in the grand final does the public alone decide the winner, with the judges' scores acting purely as a reference.

Skinner is still scheduled to appear in the BBC One "Celebrity Apprentice" Christmas special, airing on December 29 and 30, but has yet to comment further on his final boycott or legal intentions.

Whether legal action follows or not, the fallout has already cast a shadow over the final. With one contestant refusing to return and tensions rising behind the scenes, the spotlight now shifts to those still in the running.

As we previously reported, with just three couples left to battle it out for the crown on this year's "Strictly Come Dancing," Sunday's results show delivered a gut-punch to loyal viewers — fan favorite Balvinder Sopal was sent home.

A Stunning Dance-Off Ends in Heartbreak

On Sunday, December 14, the "EastEnders" star and her partner, Julian Caillon, landed in the bottom two for a shocking sixth time, facing off against reality star Amber Davies and pro dancer Nikita Kuzmin.

Despite a fierce dance-off performance, the judges chose to eliminate Sopal — and the backlash was swift and scathing.

Viewers Lash Out: 'Always the Wrong People Voted Out!'

Loyal fans took to social media in droves to air their dismay.

One commenter wrote, "Very sad to see Balvinder go, she deserved to be in the final. I think she is a beautiful dancer, so graceful. She was often under marked and put through the dance offs, very unfair. Always the wrong people voted out, like Vicky Patterson and Lewis last week."

Another blasted the decision as unbalanced, "Amateur against professional 😡😡 Balvinder had no chance, yet she improved 1000% more than Amber over the competition."

A third chimed in with, "Balvinder is a brilliant dancer and it wasn't a level playing field. Such a pleasure watching her beautiful routines."

And the most stinging reaction of all? "Nikita made a clear mistake in that dance off! Have the judges got the same clip as us? Based on that dance off alone Balvinder should have gone through!" a fan fumed.

Tears, Pride, and One Last Samba

Just two days before their final performance, Sopal and Caillon looked back on their very first routine — a Samba — which, fittingly, was also one of their final dances.

Reflecting on her early nerves, Sopal admitted, "Listen, I'm so weak on those legs. Like, I have no conviction whatsoever. I can see it. It's all really shy and small."

But fans and judges alike saw a transformation over the weeks, as Sopal began to truly shine.

"Thing is, when you become aware of it, you've got to change it, right?" she said. "There were articles written after this. People were like, 'She's gone in the next week. She's gone. She's gone.' And we got through it."

In the end, she held her head high, adding, "I'm proud of us. I'm proud of the fact that Jullian has persevered with me."

Sopal and Caillon's departure clears the way for the final three couples — Davies and Kuzmin, George Clarke and Alexis Warr, and Karen Carney with Carlos Gu, all set to battle it out for the glittering trophy.

But for many viewers, the finale has already lost some of its sparkle. Sopal and Caillon's exit marks the second consecutive week a fan favorite has bowed out of the competition.