BBC issue statement on Strictly's Thomas Skinner after he snatched reporter's phone

The BBC have spoken out following Thomas Skinner's meltdown at Elstree Studios yesterday.

The former Apprentice star snatched a reporter's phone and stormed out of interviews as he was asked about the launch of Strictly Come Dancing. His future on the show now hangs in the balance - with bosses facing a huge headache with the launch filmed this evening.

In worrying news for Skinner, today the corporation told the Mirror: "The BBC is very clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected will not be tolerated on our programmes.”

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On Wednesday, the Essex pillow salesman, who is renowned for his divisive social media output, grabbed a reporter's phone as they interviewed him and told them to stop.

Skinner took issue with being recorded as he spoke. He had arrived at the interview table alongside fellow contestant, former footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who was left having to do interviews on his own.

He was heard saying: "What's that? Are you taping it?" The reporter answered: "We have to record it," before she was heard asking: "What are you doing?"

A voice was heard: "Just answer the question, we've got three minutes," before the reporter said: "No, no, no, don't."

Thomas then told them: "That's about me," before the reporter answered: "No, it's not." When one person asked 'what made them run the question', the reporter said they were 'just recording it'.

After a few moments of inaudible audio, someone else said: "Oh my God, he's gone."

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Speaking about the moment that unfolded, an insider previously told the Mirror: "He walked to the table with his head down, he sat down, grabbed one of the reporters phones, who told him to stop. It was a shock. His reaction came out of nowhere."

Another source told us: "It was totally out of the blue. He was absolutely fine during the first interview. In good spirits and delighted and surprised to be there. Like a competition winner."

His actions are said to have left organisers furious and BBC bosses in talks over whether he should remain on the show.

Just hours before the incident Skinner told his followers on X he "can't be bought" and "won’t say things just to keep people happy".

Meanwhile, fans have voiced their thoughts on the situation. Taking to X, one said: "This is what the BBC deserve because I for one am not surprised at all. Now drop the axe IMMEDIATELY. #Strictly."

"Get rid of him man child #strictly," another fumed. "Well I can’t say I’m surprised should never had been part of the show to begin with hope he’s axed," someone else complained.

Before Skinner's antics, the BBC boss defended his casting in the family dance show while speaking at a hearing for the Culture, Media and Sport Committee.

Tim Davie was asked why Skinner had been included in this year's line up.

Tim said: "That was not my decision. That was the production team looking for those people that they thought would ... you've got two criteria; those people who want to do Strictly and those people they thought would be interesting to the audience."

He also spoke about presenter Narinder Kaur who previously questioned the decision to cast Thomas. As part of her criticism of the show, Narinder said that she had been told that she was "too controversial" for Strictly herself.