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Tom Skinner and Amy Dowden in action on the show (Image: Guy Levy/BBC/PA)

Thomas Skinner’s explosive legal threat against the BBC appears in tatters after new voting figures shed fresh light on his controversial Strictly exit. The former Apprentice star says he is taking legal advice amid claims bosses rigged the vote to boot him off the show.

However a viewer poll suggests Skinner would have received just 1.4 per cent of the public vote – a figure so low it undermines his conspiracy claims. Skinner had claimed that on the night he left the show he “received an anonymous email claiming to be from a BBC exec with stats, saying I’d received far more votes than it appeared and it wasn’t right.”

He claimed he had since had the email “independently verified.” BBC bosses don’t release the figures which are overseen by an independent company PromoVeritas. This is in line with other BBC shows for reasons including duty of care to its participants.

But insiders have pointed to an independent exit poll of 125,000 viewers which was carried out concurrently by website Strictly Spoiler as “clear evidence of his unpopularity.” It shows how Skinner attracted just 1805 votes, which was the lowest of any contestant on the BBC programme.

Like the official voting figures which are then combined with the judges’ scores, it placed Skinner bottom. A source claims: “The poll – which is larger than an exit poll for a general election – comprehensively shows that Skinner was the least popular contestant by a long way. There is no conspiracy. These are the cold, hard facts.”

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Tom Skinner has regrets about his time on Strictly (Image: BBC)

It comes as the Mirror can also reveal how the star has parted ways with his agents in the last 24 hours. Firm Insanity, who also rep stars such as Sam Thompson and Martin Kemp, informed Skinner on Saturday. Skinner last night insisted he was still repped by them when approached by the Mirror.

Skinner, 34, claimed he was told the BBC were “angry and nervous” about his participation in their show because he had met up with US Vice President J.D. Vance. He said this week: “That same email mentioned the BBC was very angry and nervous simply because I had met JD Vance. Let me be clear, I’m not a political bloke. Never have been. I just love my country and am patriotic. I’ve been made out by the press to be this political figure. If anyone was to get an opportunity like what I did, they would have taken it.

“I still think it is mad that a man like me who sells mattresses out of a van can call someone that senior in the world’s politics a friend now.” Skinner claimed he had asked to see the official voting figures but wasn’t allowed. He added: “I have asked to see the official voting figures to back up the ones I was sent in the email but was told they couldn’t be shown to me. And have never been shown in the history of the show.”

The reality TV star claimed it was the BBC’s own welfare team who advised he sought legal advice over his departure from Strictly. He wrote: “I have spoke about the email I had received to senior people and the BBC welfare team, who btw I genuinely respect. And they was the ones who advised me to get legal advice because of how unfair it all was.”

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All ended in tears: Tom Skinner on Strictly (Image: PA)

Skinner also noted Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly were stepping down as hosts of Strictly but insisted it was “coincidental”. He wrote: “I also want to say this carefully. After receiving this information and having it verified, a very senior BBC figure has since resigned. I’m not saying that had anything to do with me, but it did feel bizarre. Also the main hosts stepped down the following week. Again, I’m not saying it has anything to do with me. It’s just all very coincidental. I’m just being honest.” It’s thought he could have been referring to director-general Tim Davies.

BBC insiders say they are yet to receive any legal letters from Skinner. A source claims that many at the Corporation feel deeply let down by his outbursts given how they “supported him hugely” over the various controversies he was embroiled in during his time on the show. In September, the Apprentice star admitted an affair in 2022, shortly after marrying his wife Sinead, with whom he has three children.

That month, we told how Skinner failed to pay back a £50,000 Covid loan despite the star boasting about turning over “millions” during the pandemic. A source said: “Everyone feels deeply let down by his claims after all the support he was afforded.”

Last night Skinner told the Mirror that he didn’t believe the low voting figures, as he refused to reveal how he was able to verify the anonymous email. He said: “Regarding the anonymous email and verification process, I don’t wish to comment further at this time or release anything publicly. As for the voting figures, I know for a fact that the information you have is not accurate. That said, it doesn’t materially matter to me now, and I’m not looking to contest this publicly.” He also released a statement on social media. He said: “I want to be clear: I don’t hate the BBC…I’m not looking for conflict. I just want to get on with my life.”

A BBC Spokesperson said: “Strictly Come Dancing’s public vote is independently overseen and verified to ensure complete accuracy every week. Any claims to the contrary are entirely without foundation. Unfortunately, despite requests for it, Mr Skinner is yet to share the email he references with anyone from the BBC so we are unable to comment on it.” PromoVeritas – the company who independently verify the Strictly public vote – said: “All votes are independently and comprehensively verified by two auditors. We can confirm that all votes received are validated. This has been the case every week and we have reported no issues with the public vote or how it is being represented in the final results.”