TV personality Narinder Kaur has called out the “disgraceful” BBC for casting Tom Skinner in Strictly Come Dancing.
The Apprentice star, 34, became the latest celebrity to sign up to the upcoming series of the dancing competition, joining the likes of Vicky Pattison, Dani Dyer, and Alex Kingston.
Skinner has faced backlash in recent weeks for meeting US Vice President JD Vance for a barbecue and drinks and making comments about “something going wrong” in the UK.
The entrepreneur added that it’s “not far right” to be “flying your flag and loving your country”, before saying London feels “hostile” and “tense”.
Big Brother star Kaur claimed she was told she’s “too controversial” to appear on Strictly and accused bosses of having “unconscious bias” by casting a “controversial white man” like Skinner over her.
The Jeremy Vine panellist, 52, said on X: “Apparently I was deemed too controversial for @bbcstrictly because they only hire quiet brown and black women that fit in a box.”
She added: “But you can be a white man AND be controversial and you’ll be hired on the spot! Hello Thomas Skinner!!”
Kaur continued in a statement: “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.’”
The Standard has contacted the BBC for comment.
Skinner replied directly to her post: “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 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.”
He also addressed the backlash from the public after he was hired for Strictly.
“They say don’t read the comments on social media. But I couldn’t help myself,” he wrote.
“I’ve had absolute pellets all day on my Instagram about going on Strictly. Why are some people so angry that don’t even know me.”
Skinner 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”.
Following the post complaining about alleged abuse, JDVance replied with a picture of a cartoon character and a message that read: “Hang in there, my friend. Remember that 90 percent of people attacking your family look like this.”
Skinner will 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.
