Strictly Come Dancing star Thomas Skinner has publicly apologised after admitting to cheating on his wife Sinead, revealing she feels “humiliated” in the wake of the scandal.
The former Apprentice star said he had made “big mistakes”, confessing in a social media video that: “If you dig, you’ll find more.”
He also said he has become a “target”, and is “being portrayed a public enemy number 1” following revelations of his infidelity.
The BBC star has admitted he cheated on his wife Sinead just weeks after their wedding.
Since then, Skinner said she has forgiven him and the pair, who share three children, have “moved forward together”.
In a lengthy statement on X, he wrote: “My life ain’t perfect…..far from it. I’ve made big mistakes, I’ve let people down, and done things I’ll always regret in my past.
“The worst was what I did to my wife three and a half years ago... one stupid moment I’ll carry forever. It was nothing more and nothing less despite what is being said. I told her straight away. She had every right to leave me back then, but she forgave me... and that forgiveness changed my life.
“Since then, we’ve built a new home, had two more beautiful children, and moved forward together. We are stronger. Family is everything to me. It’s what I do everything for.
“But I’ve noticed I’ve become a target. Every part of my life is being dragged out... even my families. People around me have been offered BIG money to sell stories. And I’ve noticed I’m being portrayed as public enemy number 1. They’re trying to break me and get me cancelled.”
Skinner said that he has got a “thick skin”, adding: “The abuse and death threats don’t bother me. In fact some lies make me laugh.”
He continued: “I’ve got an extremely chequered past… more than most. I’ve never shied away from that. I’ve made mistakes and if you dig you’ll find more. But here’s the truth: most people have made mistakes.
“It’s okay to own up to them, it’s okay to talk about them and people do deserve second chances.”
Skinner first revealed he cheated on his wife in The Sun On Sunday when he said he met an “attractive woman” who “offered me some kind of cosmetic slimming treatments.”
He said their affair, which happened shortly after their May 2022 wedding, when they already had a son Henry, now four, was “a brief moment of madness”.
The couple also now have twin girls, Darla and Roma, two.
The revelation comes days after Thomas sparked headlines by storming out of a press call when a journalist’s phone — placed on the table to record the conversation — displayed messages about a personal story from his past.
Thomas, who is set to make his Strictly Come Dancing debut on 20 September, apologised on Instagram on Wednesday for snatching the reporter’s phone and walking out.
He told fans: “To set the record straight off the back of yesterday, during one of the interviews, a journalist placed their phone on the table to record the conversation.
“I happened to catch a glimpse of the screen and saw numerous messages – not about Strictly, but about a personal story from my past.
“I've been through some difficult times in my life, which I've worked hard to move on from. In that moment, seeing it there caught me off guard. I felt it was best to step away and gather myself.
“This had nothing to do with the interviews or Strictly itself. I'm sorry I picked up someone else's phone and I don't even know if the journalist realised their messages were visible, and I don't want to suggest any bad intentions on their part.
“What I do want to say is how excited I am to be part of Strictly this year. I'm so grateful for all the love, kindness and support I've been shown so far. It means the world to me, and I can't wait to give it my all on that dancefloor. Bosh.”
The BBC has confirmed it is standing by Thomas, despite the controversy, and he will remain on this year’s Strictly.
