Strictly Come Dancing returned to the BBC for the 2025 season – but some viewers are convinced they have spotted tension between Apprentice star Thomas Skinner and dance partner Amy Dowden
22:33, 20 Sep 2025Updated 22:56, 20 Sep 2025
Strictly Come Dancing fans think they have spotted early tensions between a professional dancer and a former Apprentice contestant. Saturday night saw the launch of the 2025 season of the long-running dance show.
Thomas Skinner, who is best known for competing on The Apprentice in 2019, was paired with Welsh dancing expert Amy Dowden. But some viewers are convinced they saw the beginnings of a tense working relationship between the pair.
Some fans noticed Amy recoil from Thomas(Image: BBC)
Eyebrows were raised when show hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly introduced the coupled up dancers and interviewed them about their early experiences together. Talking to Thomas and Amy in the green room, Claudia asked the former Apprentice hopeful what his dream Strictly breakfast would be.
He replied: “The best breakfast. We’re going down Deano’s cafe, nice and early, before we get started, get spicy Korean noodles, with chicken breasts and poached eggs and a little bit of Tabasco sauce.
He continued: “Or, if you don’t fancy that, we can have the sunshine chicken curry with the round chips.”
But fans noticed that Amy didn’t look convinced by Thomas’s suggestion, commented that they would beed to dance some of their routines close together, and remarked: “I really hope your food doesn’t repeat on you whilst you dance.”
Thomas then suggested he would be able to freshen his breath with chewing gum before they needed to dance closely. But viewers were convinced they could smell friction between the pair.
The duo were paired up during the 2025 launch episode(Image: PA)
The Apprentice star Thomas Skinner with his wife Sinead(Image: Instagra)
Taking to X, one shared a screenshot of Amy’s distressed expression that she pulled when Thomas was describing his dream breakfast. They wrote: “Oh Amy you poor thing getting put with skinner.”
And another shared a similar screenshot and wrote: “Amy Dowden’s face speaking for everybody at the same time… #Strictly #TomSkinner.”
Others took to social media to campaign for Thomas and Amy to be the first to be voted off, with one commenting: “Justice for Amy – she deserves so much better. Get him gone week one.” But others took to X to defend Thomas after many accounts took aim at him.
One wrote in defense of the reality star: “People need to get a grip. #Strictly chose #TomSkinner to take part this year. Take your vile comments somewhere else. I for one hope him and Amy do well this year.”
Thomas has been embroiled in damaging headlines in recent days after he admitted he was unfaithful in his marriage.
He told The Sun: “‘I had a fling. It was nothing more than that. It was the one time, it was a mistake. I woke up feeling absolutely terrible about it.
“I felt so guilty. I told my wife. I let her down in that brief moment of madness where I wasn’t thinking, where I didn’t appreciate what I had. When I told my wife, I fully understood if she was to never speak to me again. No one else made me do what I’ve done. But it just shows something so brief could ruin your life.”
STRICTLY Come Dancing has seen some iconic pairings during its two decades on screen.
Tonight, the class of 2025 will learn who their pro-partners are on the pre-recorded launch show.
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The Strictly 2025 pairings will be revealed tonightCredit: PA
But many will be hoping their Strictly partnerships don’t go the way of these past duos, who didn’t exactly see eye-to-eye, to put it politely.
Here’s a recap of some of the worst Strictly pairings ever.
Fiona Phillips and Brendan Cole
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Fiona Phillips recounted her experience on Strictly in 2005 in her memoirCredit: BBC
Former GMTV host Fiona took part in the third series of Strictly back in 2005.
She wasn’t a natural on the dancefloor, and she has claimed pro-partner Brendan Cole made his feelings on that very clear.
In her book, Remember When: My Life With Alzheimer’s, Fiona – who is battling the disease – wrote: “He could also be seen looking at my dancing and saying, ‘Pathetic, it’s not good enough!’
“Then I’m begging him to ‘stop shouting’ and worrying that I look completely ridiculous. There’s a clip where I say to the cameraman that Brendan is looking at me like he’s stepped in something.
“I really don’t remember much of that time now – maybe I blocked it out because all I recall is the sense that it was incredibly traumatic.”
She added that she was on ‘the brink of tears’ most of the time and quickly regretted her decision to sign up.
Johnny Ball and Aliona Vilani
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Johnny Ball accused his partner Aliona Vilani of ‘faking’ an injury – prompting her to get her solicitors involvedCredit: BBC
Legendary TV presenter Johnny, 87, was part of the 2012 series, where he was paired with the previous years winner, Aliona.
Aliona left the early stages of the 10th series due to an injury and Johnny was paired with Iveta Lukošiūtė instead.
Strictly’s Danny John-Jules fails to join Amy Dowden for exit chat on It Takes Two
He told The Sun on Sunday: “Aliona fell on a flat floor in flat shoes and said she had broken her leg.
“The next day she flew to the South of France for a pre-arranged weekend with her boyfriend.”
The star was then paired with Iveta – and he claimed that she devised a routine that was too difficult for him.
He said: “When I was knocked out she said, ‘That’s funny, my contract ends on Tuesday’.”
Aliona later took to X to deny his claims, saying: “I am aware that Johnny Ball has made allegations regarding my fractured ankle during 2012 SCD, which I strongly deny.
“I have instructed solicitors and am taking legal action in relation to his allegations.
“It’s therefore not appropriate to comment further at this time.”
Fern Britton and Artem Chigvintsev
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Fern Britton accused Artem Chigvintzev of ‘kicking and shoving’ her, which he vehemently deniedCredit: BBC
Fern was paired with Artem, 43, in series 10 in 2012 and was the fifth celebrity to be eliminated.
While her run on Strictly wasn’t long, it was tough, with Fern previously telling The Times: “He would look at my feet and just kick me or shove me.”
Artem denied Fern’s claims of him ‘kicking or shoving her’ during tense rehearsals.
He told the Daily Express: “I believe I treated Fern with respect and genuine care and these claims about me are the opposite of everything I believe in and the person I am.
“I cannot imagine what has prompted such statements which come as a shock to me.”
She added in her book, Fern Britton The Older I Get, how her confidence was knocked straightaway with Artem.
Describing the rehearsals as “challenging”, Fern added: “As the weeks went on, I found it increasingly hard to gather up my self-confidence and there were days I was crying before I even got into the rehearsal room.”
Lynda Bellingham and Darren Bennett
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Lynda Bellingham’s husband revealed the late star ‘hated’ being on Strictly in 2009Credit: PA:Press Association
The late actress and Loose Women star Lynda Bellingham signed up for Strictly in 2009.
She was paired with series two champ Darren Bennett, but the duo were voted out on the fourth week.
Following her death in 2014 from cancer, her husband Michael Pattemore claimed in a book that Lynda had “hated” her time on Strictly.
He wrote: “There were two things about Strictly she didn’t like. One was her body image. She always thought she looked fat. I kept saying she didn’t.
“She picked this ruched gold dress and she said it made her look 20 times bigger than what she was.
“And the other thing, she said her partner Darren Bennett was such a miserable git. There was no laughter, no fun.
“All the way through rehearsals she didn’t mind training hard, but it was solid dance. He was just hard work.
“If Lynda had had a partner like Anton du Beke or someone, now they would have had some fun together.”
Danny John-Jules and Amy Dowden
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Danny John-Jules refused to appear on It Takes Two with pro partner Amy Dowden after they were voted off, following accusations he had ‘bullied’ herCredit: PA:Press Association
Back in 2018, Red Dwarf star Danny was paired with pro dancer Amy Dowden.
While the pair produced some great routines, rumours of behind-the-scenes tension were rife.
The Sun revealed at the time that Danny, 65, had received a final warning by show bosses for “bullying” partner Amy.
When they were voted off in week eight, Danny opted not to take part in their exit interview on spin-off show It Takes Two, leaving Amy to do it on her own.
Strictly Come Dancing starts tonight at 6.20pm on BBC One.
EXCLUSIVE: Amy Dowden talks about returning to Strictly, menopause, IVF and marriage to Ben as she discusses life after chemotherapy and finding her new normal
Amy Dowden thought her life would return to normal after completing cancer treatment(Image: Instagram)
When she rang the bell to mark the end of her breast cancer treatment, Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden thought her nightmare would end. Instead she found herself at an “all time low” as she came to terms with her new reality – she was bald, menopausal and too weak to dance.
Amy told The Mirror: “I thought my life was going to get back to normal. I was deluded. I honestly thought that I’d be back dancing on Strictly in no time and that my hair was going to grow back far quicker than it did. I thought that I’d be back to the old Amy, and it hit me really hard. I was scared and petrified. It was a very daunting, difficult time as well as being put into menopause.”
Amy had been diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2023, less than a year after marrying her husband Benjamin Jones. She was 32 and preparing for a new series of Strictly. Almost immediately, she had a mastectomy, followed by IVF two weeks later to try and preserve her chances of having a family.
Amy said: “I started IVF treatment two weeks after the mastectomy. I was still recovering from surgery and then that was another journey. And then two weeks after I started chemo.”
Amy reflects on her journey after ringing the bell(Image: PinPep)
After eight rounds of chemotherapy, Amy completed her treatment and rang the bell. Sadly it didn’t herald an instant change in fortune and just a few days later Amy broke her foot, compounding her fears she’d never dance again. Amy said: “A few days later I broke my foot. I felt more of a cancer patient than ever. I felt isolated and lonely. And I didn’t know what my life ahead was going to be.”
Menopause is a notoriously difficult time for any woman, but coming after chemotherapy, it left Amy exhausted, emotional and suffering debilitating hot flushes. She said: “When I finished treatment, I actually hit an all time low. I went from this super fit young lady used to the spotlight and hair and make up to not liking to look in the mirror. But also there was a voice in my head saying, ‘Cancer can’t take away your dancing.’”
Amy has always dreamed of being a mother and thanks to the IVF wedged in between her mastectomy and chemotherapy, she has five frozen embryos that could hold the key to her future happiness.
Amy Dowden shared her cancer journey in her BBC documentary(Image: BBC/Wildflame Productions)
However, doctors have warned Amy that even though she’s cancer free, she cannot yet risk undergoing IVF as the hormones she would have to take could raise her risk of the cancer returning.
Amy said: “I always wanted the honour of being a mother. My oncologist said he won’t speak to me about it yet. It’s too soon. We were lucky enough to get five embryos, but right now, it’s still too soon. I only finished active treatment just over a year ago. My body has just got to recover first, hopefully.”
Amy is sharing her recovery story after making a short film called Beyond the Bell, which is part of the Keep Ahead campaign from Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK, to shed light on life post-breast cancer.
While ringing the bell might appear as a moment of joy for people outside of cancer treatment, Amy wants to prepare people going through treatment for the reality.
Amy on Strictly Come Dancing(Image: BBC/Ray Burmiston)
In hindsight, Amy realises her return to Strictly was too soon for her physically – though she believes dancing on the show was vital to her mental and emotional recovery.
Amy said: “I went back to Strictly far too early last year because I just wanted to get what I thought was my normal back. I needed it mentally to go back, otherwise I don’t think I would have ever gone back. I needed that normality. I couldn’t have watched another series from the sofa. It was killing me. Physically I wasn’t ready, but I thought I was. The BBC put so much in place to ease me back in gradually and I’m so grateful for them and they constantly had my best interests at heart.”
With the 2025 series of Strictly looming, Amy believes she’s fitter than ever and is grateful that her body has adjusted to the menopause.
She said: “I still get the occasional hot flush. This time last year it was really tough but now I really feel my body’s adjusted to it.”
Amy and Ben have just celebrated their third wedding anniversary and despite the traumatic start to their marriage, their love is deeper than ever before. Amy said: “We’re even closer than ever now, especially this past year getting our life back together, enjoying holidays and doing our house renovation. My husband said to me earlier this year, ‘I love my life and I’m really happy.’ It makes you realise how precious life and your loved ones are after a cancer diagnosis. We just enjoy every little bit of time we get together.”
Part of Amy’s new normal is saying ‘no’ more often and prioritising her recovery. She said: “I would always work myself into the ground. I wouldn’t take a day off. I’d run Dance Academy, I’d be saying yes to absolutely everything and I’ve learned that now, actually, I need time off to recover. I need a day off or I need to go and see my family. That’s what I learnt most about cancer – life is precious.”
Another unexpected side effect of cancer is that Amy has lost close friends who never reached out to her after her diagnosis, leaving her hurt and confused. Amy said: “There were people sat at my wedding six months before and I still haven’t heard from them today. Everyone deals with it differently, but it’s still very tough. So much has changed for me.”
Amy and her husband Ben are closer than ever(Image: Amy Dowden Instagram)
However, cancer has brought new people into her life and her true friendships and relationships have strengthened. Amy said: “I learned who my true friends and family were and I only surround myself with them, that’s the new normal for me.”
Amy has shared her early breast cancer journey from the beginning, hoping her story helps others who are also affected by the disease. She said: “If a lady’s diagnosed with cancer she can say it, ‘Well, Amy got back on the dance floor or she can say to her little girl, ‘Look, Mum’s got what Amy’s got and she’s back on Strictly, she’s got a smile on her face.’”
While her recovery has been gruelling, Amy believes that she’s now fitter than she’s ever been. She said: “Everyone is different but actually I feel stronger and fitter than I did now before my cancer treatment. I’ve done that hard work in the gym and I’ve really loved seeing the differences made and doing one up on cancer.”
So it’s with an unflinching smile that Amy heads into this year’s Strictly.
While she dreams of being victorious and lifting the glitterball trophy with her celebrity partner, Amy admits just completing the competition would mean the world to her.
She said: “Watching your celebrity fall in love with dancing, that for me is a win. It would just be wonderful to be able to complete the whole Strictly series. I just can’t wait to just soak myself in all the Strictly magic.”
