Strictly Come Dancing's Thomas Skinner first star to be eliminated as he issues apology

Strictly Come Dancing has revealed the first celebrity to be eliminated from the 2025 series during tonight's results show. After the public vote, hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly announced that rugby player Chris Robshaw and ex The Apprentice star Thomas Skinner had landed in the bottom two.

But after a dance-off, it was Thomas who became the first Strictly Come Dancing contestant this year to be eliminated from the competition with professional partner Amy Dowden. The judges unanimously voted to save Chris and Nadiya Bychkova after the pair performed their Viennese Waltz to Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars' Die With A Smile once again.

While Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood choosing to save Chris meant that he won the majority vote, Motsi Mabuse - who had the deciding vote this week - said that she also would have chosen to save Chris and Nadiya.

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Speaking about being eliminated, Thomas told Tess: "I’ve loved it. I’ve never danced before and my stay was short, but Amy’s amazing. It's been great fun and I've enjoyed it.

"I can’t really dance that well but I’ve had fun! Thank you, Amy - sorry that we haven’t done too good, ‘cause you’re a different class."

Meanwhile, Amy said that she "got to know the real Tom" during her time in the competition with him, adding: "He is adorable. He’s looked after me. We’ve laughed so much.

"We’ve worked so hard and a glitterball would have been amazing but what I’ve learnt in the last few years is happiness, health and being alive is more important than anything.

"I’ve made a new friend for life and I wouldn’t change a thing. There is a Ballroom boy in there so I’m a bit gutted he didn’t get to do the Ballroom, but the last three years as you know have been quite difficult for me.

"I lost all confidence as a dancer - but walking into the room with you with a massive smile and a laugh, you brought me back and, honestly, thank you."

Thomas' time on Strictly hasn't been without its dramas - with the reality star storming out of the show's press interviews just weeks before the launch and snatching a reporter's phone. It later came to light that he had a fling with an aesthetician just weeks after his 2022 wedding to wife Sinead.

After training began, Thomas revealed that he lost a stone just from the training. He told It Takes Two this week: "I'll be honest with you, I've lost a stone since starting Strictly. I'm a stone lighter. I feel no different. I can't wait to get back in the cafe.

"No honestly, I have lost weight and I've noticed my trousers are getting a little bit bigger. I'm learning a skill, which is dancing, and once you know how to do it, it's amazing. They [the professionals] are in a different class. I do it, it's not so good. But I am trying and I am getting there."

Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday at 6:05pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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