Thomas Skinner has seen his chances of winning Strictly Come Dancing improve according to bookmakers, despite finding himself in the news this week for abruptly leaving a press day for the show.
The 34-year-old entrepreneur shocked reporters at Elstree Studios when he departed during roundtable interviews alongside fellow contestant Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
GB News was in attendance at the event, and while Mr Skinner wasn't at the table with the People's Channel, a BBC representative had claimed his disappearance was down to a "work call".
The BBC has since stood by Mr Skinner and confirmed he will remain a part of the cast. Mr Skinner addressed the controversy on Instagram on Wednesday, explaining that he noticed messages about his personal history on a reporter's device that was recording their conversation.
Thomas Skinner was announced as a Strictly contestant over the summer | BBC"I happened to catch a glimpse of the screen and saw numerous messages - not about Strictly, but about a personal story from my past," he wrote in his statement.
The social media influencer acknowledged experiencing challenging periods in his life that he has attempted to leave behind, stating that the unexpected sight of these messages unsettled him.
"In that moment, seeing it there caught me off guard. I felt it was best to step away and gather myself," Skinner explained.
He offered an apology for taking the journalist's device and clarified that the incident was unrelated to the dance competition itself.
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|"I'm sorry I picked up someone else's phone and I don't even know if the journalist realised their messages were visible," he stated.
While the incident prompted Mr Skinner's critics to call for his axe from the series, bookmakers appear to disagree. In fact, in the days since the press event, the former Celebrity MasterChef star has seen his chances of glory improve.
This has been put down to a change in the BBC voting system. Contestants will now be able to receive votes online rather than from a premium phone line like previous years.
The BBC's modifications to its voting procedures could significantly alter the competition's dynamics, according to gambling industry analysis.
Thomas Skinner has seen his chances of victory rapidly improve
| GETTYA Slingo representative suggested the changes would likely result in "a major shake-up in who we see excel on the show, with many talented dancers potentially being sent packing early."
The spokesperson highlighted how "personality taking precedence over technical talent" could become the new norm, citing Pete Wicks from the previous series as an example.
"His likability with the public helped him sail through the competition, surviving eliminations right up until the final. Yet if it had been down to the judges' scores alone, he wouldn't have lasted half as long," the analysis noted.
The revised system is expected to amplify the influence of younger, digitally-engaged audiences who haven't traditionally formed Strictly's core viewership.
This shift could particularly advantage contestants with established online platforms and the ability to mobilise substantial digital communities.
Current betting favourites Lewis Cope and Ellie Goldstein might face unexpected challenges despite their dance backgrounds, as neither possesses the extensive online reach of their competitors.
To set the record straight off the back of yesterday.
— Thomas Skinner ⚒ (@iamtomskinner) September 10, 2025
During one of the interviews, a journalist placed their phone on the table to record the conversation. I happened to catch a glimpse of the screen and saw numerous messages – not about Strictly, but about a personal story…
Mr Skinner, meanwhile, has built up a vast following across social media, boasting 420.1k X followers and 712k Instagram followers.
According to William Hill, Mr Skinner's outright odds to win this year's series have now been cut from 18/1 to 16/1. That isn't the only boost, as his odds to be eliminated from the series first up have drifted from 8/1 to 9/1.