Thomas Skinner has decided to rise above the vitriol he’s faced on social media since Saturday night’s Strictly Come Dancing, with one familiar face joining the online trolls.
On Saturday evening, Mr Skinner, alongside his pro partner Amy Dowden, failed to impress the Strictly judges with their lift-laden Salsa, ending the night at the foot of the leaderboard.
The feedback from the judges was particularly harsh, with Craig Revel Horwood, in particular, pulling no punches with his criticism of the routine.
Nevertheless, Mr Skinner took it all in his stride and just moments after the performance, he returned to X to applaud Ms Dowden for her efforts and encourage his fans to vote to keep him in the contest.
BBC Strictly: Thomas Skinner’s routine had lifts aplenty on Saturday night
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BBCHowever, despite the support from his 418.9k X followers, Mr Skinner still faced a barrage of abuse – a familiar trend so far this series thanks to the reality star’s patriotic views and vocal opposition to wokeness.
And one person who decided to join in the onslaught was broadcaster Narinder Kaur.
The Jeremy Vine regular has opposed Mr Skinner’s participation in this year’s series ever since he was announced, taking issue with the appointment after she was supposedly rejected by bosses for being “too controversial”.
Spotting a fresh chance to take a pop at the Apprentice star, Ms Kaur posted on X a three-second clip of Mr Skinner rotating his hips during his Week Two Salsa.
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In the accompanying caption, the Jeremy Vine regular pointedly remarked: “And I was ‘too much’,” followed by a skull emoji.
In response, Mr Skinner shared a series of laughing emojis alongside the message: “At least I get to wear the sparkly outfit.”
The quick-witted comeback didn’t go unnoticed by X users who soon replied to Mr Skinner’s retort with their thoughts.
“And my God don’t you wear it well,” one supporter commented before a second weighed in: “And bust those moves, absolute Guvnor.”
At least I get to wear the sparkly outfit 😂😂
— Thomas Skinner ⚒ (@iamtomskinner) October 5, 2025
“At least you don’t use social media to bring other people down using any means possible. She does. YOU are the absolute guvnor,” a third added.
“People just point at her and laugh these days, she’s an unlikable, bitter annoyance,” a fourth hit out while a fifth encouraged: “You go get em Tom.” (sic)
Ms Kaur and Mr Skinner’s feud dates back months, with the political commentator criticising his Strictly appointment within hours of it being announced.
On social media, Ms Kaur released a minute-long video complaining about the news. She wrote in the accompanying caption: “Apparently, I was deemed too controversial for @bbcstrictly because they only hire quiet brown and black women that fit in a box. But you can be a white man AND be controversial and you’ll be hired on the spot! Hello Thomas Skinner!!”
Narinder Kaur has attacked Thomas Skinner throughout his Strictly stint
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C5In the video itself, she added: “There’s only so much you can say in a short video, but I felt something many others have been feeling all day and that was complete shock and utter bewilderment – to see Thomas be announced in the line-up, considering all the rhetoric about how people with right-wing opinions are cancelled and not allowed on the BBC.
“I’ve debated Tom on Good Morning Britain before. I supported his book release at his launch party. There is a huge disparity in what certain demographics of people are allowed to say and still get one show after another.
“I met the Strictly team at the TV Choice Awards earlier this year and got talking to one of the bookers about the show generally – and she said ‘You’re a bit too controversial and we can’t have that for the show.’”
At the time, Mr Skinner attempted to build bridges with Ms Kaur. He replied to her video on X: “Narinder, I respect that you stand up for what you believe in, not everyone’s got the guts to do that. Yes, I’ve got a past, but I’m not here to divide people.
BBC Strictly: Amy Dowden and Thomas Skinner took on the Salsa
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BBC“I’m just trying to get people to believe in themselves and realise they can do more than they think. Life can be so much better when you let happiness in and don’t always be angry towards others.
“If I’ve ever upset you, I’m sorry… that’s never been my intention. I wish ya nothing but peace, happiness, and a life you can truly enjoy. Bosh.”
But it failed to appease Ms Kaur, who appeared on Channel 5’s Jeremy Vine the following week to launch an attack on Mr Skinner.
She then repeated the claims during her August appearance on the show, telling host Alexis Conran: “It upset me and it upset me quite a lot actually. I’ve wanted to do Strictly and I’ve approached them, the last time I approached them was about January or February…
Narinder, I respect that you stand up for what you believe in, not everyone’s got the guts to do that. Yes, I’ve got a past, but I’m not here to divide people. I’m just trying to get people to believe in themselves and realise they can do more than they think. Life can be so much…
— Thomas Skinner ⚒ (@iamtomskinner) August 14, 2025
“They said, ‘Well, we like you, but you’re a little too controversial’. Now, I can accept that, although I don’t know why I’m controversial when I stand up (against) racism, I accepted it. So when they announced Thomas Skinner, I’m like, ‘Hang on a minute!’
“I’m a little bit too much, I’m a little bit controversial, but you get someone like Thomas Skinner who’s got a criminal record – yes, it was years ago, but still. He’s on the online-right, he’s a proud patriot, so why was I too controversial and he’s okay? I don’t like it, I don’t accept it.”
Mr Conran then read aloud Skinner’s response to Ms Kaur’s criticism on X, in which he wished her well and a happy life.
“He did his usual sweet talking,” Ms Kaur dismissively replied. “He just said I regret my past, it’s spent, I have got a criminal past, but those days are gone and I wish everyone well, I wish you nothing but peace and happiness – Ha! You see, you can’t fight that, but it’s just so fake.”