Tom Skinner drowns his sorrows with pints and cigarettes after first-week exit

Axed Thomas Skinner drowned his Strictly Come Dancing sorrows with some beers - and didn't look too cut up about his painfully early exit.

Despite suffering the indignity of becoming the first contestant to leave the show, the pillow salesman was in playful mood with his family as he joked with son Henry as he enjoyed some pints and puffed away yesterday. While the public had to wait until Sunday night for the news, Thomas already knew he was toast with his exit recorded on Saturday.

The former contestant on The Apprentice, paired with pro Amy Dowden, got his marching orders in a unanimous decision after losing in the dance-off to for England rugby player Chris Robshaw. His departure means that his attempt to represent all “the dads with beer bellies” had spectacularly backfired - so there was only one thing for it.

READ MORE: Why 'man of the people' Thomas Skinner has come last in Strictly's popularity vote

READ MORE: Fury over Amy Dowden's bombshell Strictly move as fans blast 'dirty' decision

Wearing a flat cap, he went for a few drinks with pals at at The Thatchers pub in Brentwood, Essex, before his family arrived. He was seen roaring with laughter and clutching a wad of cash. He didn't seem to be letting his sharp exit from the show get him down as he laughed with the group outside the boozer and attempted to frighted his three-year-old.

On Saturday night’s live show, the 34-year-old and Amy danced a salsa to the Dizzee Rascal track Bonkers, with the bedding boss not exactly impressing the judges. Craig Revel Horwood launched into his, saying: “You looked like you were competing in a weight-lifting competing in Skegness. It was all just power lifts."

The judges unanimously chose to save Chris, resulting in Tom being the first star to leave the 2025 competition. Speaking on the show, Tom told host Tess Daly: "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."

He later went on to say on social media: "Amy Dowden is one of the most amazing persons I've ever met. I loved every single second dancing with her. She is an absolutely wonderful person inside and out. She didn’t deserve to be out first, I'm so gutted for her that we went so early in the competition. I know dancing means the absolute world to her. Keep on shinning Amy. Sorry our Strictly journey was so short. But you keep on shinning girl. You deserve the world. Bosh."

He failed to get the public onside and that could be blamed on his confession in the run up to the programme. Shortly after the line-up was announced, the news broke that Thomas had cheated on his wife Sinead - who he is still with and shares three children with - weeks after their wedding in 2022.

Though Sinead knew about the affair before it was made public, it hasn't gone down well. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Thomas confessed: "It took a long, long time for her to forgive me and we have worked at it. I will never say I'm perfect, but it was hard seeing my wife relive all of this. But she said that it wouldn't break us, it wouldn't ruin us. She told me that she loves me to pieces and I love her."

As well as the affair scandal, Thomas - who has publicly declared his love for US President Donald Trump and been spotted hanging out with US Vice President JD Vance - is said to have received death threats since appearing on Strictly. Spider-Man star Tom Holland's former bodyguard was reportedly brought in to protect him.

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