Thomas Skinner’s Dance Partner Warned Ahead of Strictly Launch

A woman who previously had a brief relationship with Strictly Come Dancing star Thomas Skinner has issued a warning to his yet-to-be-revealed dance partner ahead of the show’s launch this weekend. The former contestant of The Apprentice, Skinner described the romance as a “two-week fling” in an interview with the Sun on Sunday.

Amy-Lucy O’Rourke, a 35-year-old beauty clinic owner, disclosed that her relationship with Skinner lasted three months, occurring shortly after his wedding to Sinead Skinner in May 2022. In her comments to the Daily Mail, she expressed concern for whoever will spend extensive time training him for the competition. “I feel sorry for whoever has to spend hours training him for the show, and I wonder what version of him they will meet,” she said.

Skinner has publicly acknowledged the guilt he felt following the affair. He admitted to experiencing a profound sense of remorse after the relationship and stated that telling his wife was one of the hardest moments of his life. “I let her down in that brief moment of madness where I wasn’t thinking,” he explained.

O’Rourke characterized Skinner as “cruel,” stating he led her to believe they shared a deep connection. “He would stand in the mirror with me and say, ‘Look, we’ll be Mr and Mrs Skinner.’ That is actually traumatising to me,” she recounted. O’Rourke expressed her feelings of betrayal, claiming that Skinner’s words made her fall in love with him despite his marital status.

The businessman described his actions as a significant mistake, stating, “My wife is the best thing that’s ever happened. I’m so lucky she forgave me.” He acknowledged that the affair could have had devastating consequences for his marriage. “It just shows something so brief could ruin your life,” he added.

Skinner is set to join a lineup of well-known personalities for this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing, including Balvinder Sopal from EastEnders, Nitro from Gladiators, and Stefan Dennis from Neighbours. His participation was first revealed by the Sun in May, and he has expressed excitement about the competition.

“I’m so looking forward to it, I’m excited, I’m buzzing,” Skinner stated. He admitted to having no prior dancing experience but is eager to learn. “It’s something completely out of my comfort zone. I’m going to be putting on the outfits, learning how to dance and just try my best,” he said.

As the new season of Strictly Come Dancing approaches, fans will soon see how Skinner’s complex personal life intertwines with his professional commitments on the dance floor.