TV personality Narinder Kaur has criticised the BBC’s decision to cast Thomas Skinner as a celebrity contestant on Strictly Come Dancing.
Skinner recently met US vice president JD Vance for a barbecue and drinks, and befriended US President Donald Trump’s number two on social media platform X.
He recently claimed he had received “death threats” and “vile comments about my children”, following a series of social media posts claiming “something’s gone wrong” in the UK, and saying “there is nothing wrong with being proud of where you’re from”.
In other posts, which drew criticism from some of his followers, Skinner said it is “not far-right” to be “flying your flag and loving your country”, and he complained “it ain’t safe out there anymore” in London, saying the city is “hostile” and “tense”.
It comes as Kaur claimed she was told she was “too controversial” for the show herself.
In the caption of a video posted to X, Jeremy Vine panellist and former Big Brother star Kaur, 52, said: “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!!”
In a statement, 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.’”
Social media personality Skinner has been announced as one of the latest celebrities to be taking part in the upcoming series of BBC One show Strictly.
Following Skinner’s post complaining about alleged abuse, Mr Vance replied with a picture of a cartoon character typing on a keyboard and a message that read: “Hang in there, my friend. Remember that 90 percent of people attacking your family look like this.”
After the Strictly announcement, Skinner said in a social media post: “They say don’t read the comments on social media. But I couldn’t help myself. I’ve had absolute pellets all day on my Instagram lost about going on Strictly… Why are some people so angry that don’t even know me.”
Among the other celebrity contestants confirmed for Strictly this year are former Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison and Neighbours actor Stefan Dennis.
They join the likes of podcast host and YouTube star George Clarke, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK finalist La Voix, former England rugby player Chris Robshaw, and model and CBBC actress Ellie Goldstein, who is to become the first contestant with Down’s syndrome to take part in Strictly’s full series.
The line-up is completed by Love Island winner Dani Dyer-Bowen, EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal, Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Doctor Who actress Alex Kingston, and former footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
Strictly, hosted by Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer in September, with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas as judges.
The BBC has been approached for comment.
