Thomas Skinner shares blunt three-word summary of his time on Strictly after early exit

Thomas Skinner has given a three-word verdict about his time on Strictly Come Dancing following his early exit from the competition.

Former Apprentice star Skinner became the first contestant to be eliminated from the BBC dancing contest over the weekend after viewers and judges panned his performance.

The 34-year-old and his professional partner Amy Dowden were defeated in Sunday’s dance-off by former England rugby star Chris Robshaw and his partner Nadiya Bychkova, with both pairs performing their dances from Saturday night for a second time.

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Speaking on It Takes Two this evening, Skinner admitted he was "loving life" on the dancefloor on Saturday night and had so much fun during his short stint on the show.

"I do move like a fridge," he jokingly told host Janette Manrara when looking back on his first and last live dance. "Obviously I'd have loved to have carried on going further but it's a dancing competition. I'm lucky to be here - I'm lucky to meet Amy. It's been a great experience. It's been good fun."

Asked by Manrara if he's gutted he can't continue, Skinner joked: "I wanted to be bad at other dances too. I was looking forward to that."

Summing up his time as a Strictly Come Dancing contestant in three words, Skinner told a bemused Manrara: "Fun. Funny. Funnier. I don't know what to say to be honest. I loved it."

Speaking about his time on the show, Skinner said on Sunday's show: "I’ve loved it. I’ve never danced before and my stay was short, but Amy’s amazing.

"It’s been great fun and I’ve enjoyed it. I can’t really dance that well but I’ve had fun! Thank you, Amy – sorry that we haven’t done too good, ‘cause you’re a different class.”

After Skinner and Dowden had performed their salsa to Bonkers by Dizzee Rascal and Armand van Helden, and Robshaw and Bychkova had performed the Viennese waltz to Die With A Smile by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, the judges gave their verdict.

Head judge Shirley Ballas and judges Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood all voted to save Robshaw and Bychkova, meaning Motsi Mabuse did not need to use her casting vote, but said she would have voted the same way.

The judges’ decision came after the couples’ scores from week one and two were added to the public vote.

It came after Skinner, who has made his name as a social media star, ended Saturday’s show with a joint score of 29, having scored just 13 for his performance.

Before giving him a two, Revel Horwood said of the dance: “It looked like you were competing at a weightlifting competition in Skegness, darling, it was all just powerlifts.”

Dowden added of her time with Skinner: “I’ve got to know the real Tom and he is adorable. He’s looked after me. We’ve laughed so much. We’ve worked so hard and a glitterball would have been amazing, but what I’ve learnt in the last few years is happiness, health and being alive is more important than anything.

"I’ve made a new friend for life and I wouldn’t change a thing. There is a ballroom boy in there, so I’m a bit gutted he didn’t get to do the ballroom, but the last three years, as you know, have been quite difficult for me.

“I lost all confidence as a dancer – but walking into the room with you with a massive smile and a laugh, you brought me back and, honestly, thank you.”

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