Strictly Come Dancing contestant Thomas Skinner has bragged about his huge income over the years after admitting he didn’t sign up to the BBC show for the money
Thomas Skinner hasn’t been one to shy away from revealing just how much he earns.
The star has said taking part in Strictly Come Dancing isn’t about the money for him. The ex Apprentice contestant, 34, rose to fame when he tried to get Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment on the BBC show.
However, Thomas failed to impress the businessman and suffered a ‘your fired’ moment as he exited the show. Thomas has continued to work on his pillow business and racked up fans following his time on the show.
He has already sparked controversy following his Strictly signing due to his controversial tweets. The TV star sparked further outcry when he stormed out of the press day, snatching a journalist’s phone.
READ MORE: Strictly fallout in full – two stars quit, one unhappy pro and controversies continueREAD MORE: Strictly’s Amy Dowden introduced to Thomas Skinner’s kids in moving clip
Thomas’ drama didn’t end there as he later confessed to cheating on his wife Sinead just weeks after their wedding, and sparked divided when he was paired with beloved dancer Amy Dowden last weekend.
The Mirror has since revealed Thomas is facing a new controversy as one of his firms hasn’t paid back a £50,000 Covid bounce back loan. One of his businesses applied for the tax-payer-funded Government loan in 2020.
Five years on, there is no record of the firm – the Fluffy Pillow Company – which lists him as the sole director – ever paying the loan back. Thomas has been vocal about Fluffy Pillow Company and second company, Bosh Beds, being highly profitable.
In his autobiography, Thomas said: “The company grew quickly after I finished The Apprentice and did very well thanks to massive demand during the pandemic when everyone had money to spare and plenty of time to spend in bed.”
He claimed Bosh Beds, which was formally registered months later in October 2020, was “taking £130,000 pound a week in sales, by 2021, and had 14 staff.”
Thomas added: “Everyone’s got loads of money. We was cleaning up. It was easy. It was so easy I put a (social media) post up, it would take £30 grand worth of orders.
“I was riding a wave on the back of covid….million-pound deals were the norm every couple of months. It was insane.” In December 2021, he boasted: “Today I’ve turnt (sic) over £1.8 million pound in 1 year with BOSH BEDS!”
The Fluffy Pillow Company applied for the maximum loan of £50,000, and Thomas self-certified his business had previously been turning over £200,000 a year.
When asked if he was doing Strictly for the money, the Essex businessman has told The Times: “I’m getting ten grand for Strictly but seriously, I’d do it for a tenner.” He added: “It’s an absolute honour.”
The Fluffy Pillow Company has stopped trading, with it unclear when business came to an end. A spokesperson for Thomas hasn’t answered questions posed by the Mirror as to when the firm stopped trading.
It is unclear why he repeatedly referred to Fluffy Pillows having employees while the company’s micro-accounts state the company had an average of one employee. The company faced a compulsory strike off application in May 2023, which was later suspended. Questions remain over Thomas’s true financial status today.
Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.