BBC Strictly Come Dancing star Tom Skinner's life – criminal past to JD Vance barbeque

Former The Apprentice candidate Tom Skinner has been confirmed as one of the latest celebrities joining the sparkling Strictly Come Dancing dancefloor, though his path to the BBC ballroom has been far from conventional.

The 32 year old Essex-born businessman, now renowned for his thriving pillow and mattress empire, initially rose to prominence on the 2019 series of The Apprentice. His vibrant personality, mischievous Essex wit, and tireless determination endeared him to audiences, despite his departure from Sir Alan Sugar's boardroom in week nine.

However, prior to his television appearances, commercial achievements, and celebrity status, Skinner's life took a dramatically different direction. In 2016, at just 24 years old, he as convicted for handling stolen merchandise valued at nearly £40,000 after purchasing 4,992 tubes of Body Shop cleansing gel and having 2,000 diazepam tablets from what he subsequently acknowledged was an "unreliable source". It comes after Strictly Come Dancing's Gorka Marquez pulls out of show.

READ MORE: Coronation Street spoilers: DI Costello 'rumbled', David and Lisa at war and sad exit

READ MORE: Billi Mucklow shows Andy Carroll what he's missing as Lou Teasdale romance ends in tears

He was later sentenced and his conviction has since been spent and Skinner has since maintained he's a "changed man". He told the Daily Mail in a previous interview: "Many years ago before I had my business, I was young and naive and bought stock from someone I didn’t know", reports the Daily Star.

"I wasn’t aware the stock was stolen and paid the consequences for the mistake I made. That is now well in my past, I’ve had a string of successful companies since then. I am a changed man."

After news of Tom's past broke just before his stint on The Apprentice in 2019 aired, a BBC spokesperson said: "DBS checks are done for all The Apprentice candidates by the production company ahead of filming.

"A spent conviction is not disclosed under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. Spent convictions are designed to help people move on in life and not be excluded from opportunities to help further their careers."

Tom went on to appear on the BBC show and, since his TV appearance, his career has flourished in remarkable ways.

Renowned for his candid videos on social media platform X, Skinner's posts about business, politics, and everyday life have garnered hundreds of thousands of followers. His social media presence has since sparked an extraordinary friendship with US Vice President JD Vance, Donald Trump's running mate.

Vance has shown support for the businessman on X after Tom claimed he received death threats and "vile comments about my children" after he posted a series of tweets in which he said "something's gone wrong" in the UK and said "there is nothing wrong with being proud of where you’re from".

After tweeting about the online abuse, the Vice President tweeted a cartoon image of a South Park character looking dishevelled while sat at a computer to Tom and wrote: "Hang in there, my friend. Remember that 90 percent of people attacking your family look like this." Tom replied to the tweet with: "Thank you JD. Bosh".

Days after the online exchange between the pair, Tom revealed on Twitter the pair had met up. He wrote: "When the Vice President of the USA invites ya for a BBQ an beers, you say yes. Unreal night with JD and his friends n family. He was a proper gent. Lots of laughs and some fantastic food. A brilliant night, one to tell the grand kids about mate. Bosh."

Tom then shared a selfie of the smiling pair on X and added: "Here is a pic of Me and Vice President @JDVance towards the end of the night after a few beers I’m overdressed in my suit, but when the VP invites you to a BBQ, you don’t risk turning up in shorts an flip-flops Cracking night in the beautiful English countryside with JD, his friends and family. Once in a lifetime. Bosh".

Skinner has also used his own story to inspire others with learning difficulties to pursue big opportunities as he has dyslexia.

He admitted: "I can't even fill out a form, but it didn't matter. The Apprentice changed my life. If you're thinking of applying for something, do it, one million percent."

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Threads.