Who Is Thomas Skinner on Strictly Come Dancing 2025?
Thomas Henry Skinner isn't a typical Strictly contestant. Born on February 6, 1991, in Romford, Essex, this self-proclaimed "grafter" has built his entire life around hard work, humor, and his now-legendary catchphrase "Bosh!" Starting his entrepreneurial journey at just 16 years old on market stalls after completing his GCSEs, Thomas has never been afraid of rolling up his sleeves. Below is an official Instagram post shared by an iamtomskinner Instagram account at the participation in Strictly Come Dancing 2025:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DNVAzOrNPzA/?
Despite having dyslexia – something he's openly discussed he's built multiple successful businesses and become one of Britain's most recognizable TV personalities. "I'm dyslexic, I can't even fill out a form and I'm no good at paperwork, but it didn't matter," Thomas has said about his learning difficulty, proving it's never held him back from success.
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Age: 34 (born February 6, 1991)
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From: Romford, Essex
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Businesses: Bosh Beds, formerly The Fluffy Pillow Company
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Famous for: The Apprentice 2019, "Bosh" catchphrase
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Family: Wife Sinéad, three children
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Football team: West Ham United
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Religion: Roman Catholic
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Education: Brentwood School, Essex
The Apprentice 2019: Where Britain Fell in Love with Thomas
Most people first met Thomas Skinner when he appeared on Series 15 of The Apprentice in 2019. As the owner of The Fluffy Pillow Company at the time, he entered the boardroom wearing a polo shirt and Timberlands while other candidates showed up in three-piece suits. That pretty much sums up Thomas – authentic, different, and refreshingly real.
Despite losing all but one task (and admitting he was "boozed out of my head" for the first one), Thomas survived until Week 9. When Lord Sugar finally fired him, it was "with regret," praising his "honourability" and calling him a "nice fella." The real victory? Thomas became the breakout star of the series. His enthusiastic personality, thick cockney accent, and that signature "BOSH!" at the end of sentences turned him into a national treasure overnight. Sales of his pillows exploded – hitting 700-800 orders daily at one point.
From Pillows to Bosh Beds: The Business Journey
After The Apprentice catapulted him to fame, Thomas faced his biggest challenge when COVID-19 hit. His pillow manufacturer tragically died from the virus, leaving him without a supplier. In his own words: "I had to sell my watch to pay everyone's wages – all I had was the van."
But like a true entrepreneur, Thomas pivoted. In October 2020, he launched Bosh Beds, specializing in mattresses. Today, the company supplies over 200 hotels across the UK with British-manufactured mattresses. His ambition? To compete with giants like Dreams and Bensons for Beds.
Thomas Skinner on Strictly Come Dancing 2025: The Announcement
On the morning of August 14, 2025, Thomas teased the news by posting a video from his favorite cafe, Dino's Cafe at New Spitalfields Market – eating potato letters that spelled out "Strictly." The official confirmation came during Sam Thompson's Hits Radio Breakfast show.
"I'm beyond excited to be joining Strictly Come Dancing," Thomas said. "I've tackled the boardroom and some big breakfasts in my time, but stepping onto the dance floor under that glitter ball is next-level stuff! I've never danced in my life (other than at weddings), but I'm ready to graft and, of course, laugh. Bring on the sequins, samba, and most importantly, the BOSH to the ballroom!"
Personal Life: Family Man Behind the Banter
Behind the larger-than-life personality, Thomas is a devoted family man. He married his partner, Sinead Chambers, in May 2022, after proposing in 2020. The couple has three children: son Henry (born October 2020) and twin daughters (born June 2023). Sinéad deserves credit for Thomas's TV career – she secretly signed him up for The Apprentice because she was a huge fan of the show. Thomas initially dismissed the idea, but six weeks later, producers called.
Beyond The Apprentice: TV Career Highlights
Since 2019, Thomas has become a regular on British television:
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Celebrity MasterChef (2020)
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8 Out of 10 Cats
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The Wheel
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Michael McIntyre's Big Show
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Good Morning Britain
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Jeremy Vine on Channel 5
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TalkSport Radio regular
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The Men's Room podcast (2024) – focusing on men's mental health with Neil Ruddock
The Full Strictly Come Dancing 2025 Line-Up
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Thomas joins an exciting cast for Strictly 2025:
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Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Gladiator "Nitro")
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Dani Dyer (Love Island winner)
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Alex Kingston (Doctor Who star)
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Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Former footballer)
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Balvinder Sopal (EastEnders actress)
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La Voix (Drag Race UK star)
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George Clarke (YouTuber/TikToker)
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Chris Robshaw (Former England rugby captain)
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Ellie Goldstein (Model/influencer, first contestant with Down syndrome)
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Thomas Skinner (The Apprentice star)
More celebrities are expected to be announced in the coming days before the series starts in September 2025.
