Strictly Come Dancing’s Amy Dowden has broken her silence after it was revealed she has been paired with Thomas Skinner for the 2025 series.
During the launch show on Saturday (September 20), The Apprentice star Thomas said he was “over the moon” to be partnered with Amy and added: “I hope you can teach me a few moves because I’m useless at the minute.”
The 34-year-old has been in the headlines recently after admitting to cheating on his wife three years ago.
He also apologised for picking up a journalist’s phone and walking out of a Strictly press event earlier in the month.
Top 5 most iconic Strictly performances
Among the other Strictly pairing announcements last night were Vicky Pattison and Kai Widdrington, Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe, and Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon.
As part of the launch show, viewers were also treated to an opening dance number from the professionals and judges, as well as a special performance from 2024 winners Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell.
Strictly’s Amy Dowden breaks silence on Thomas Skinner pairing
But taking to Instagram after the first show, Amy told Strictly fans and her 705k followers it’s been “lovely” getting to know Thomas.
Sharing a picture of the pair posing in their dazzling blue-toned dance outfits, she wrote in the caption: “The news is out! @iamtomskinner and I are excited and working hard rrrrrready for the first live show next Saturday!
“Tom is working so hard and is loving learning to dance (more than he ever imagined).
“We are laughing lots too! Honestly Tom it’s been so lovely getting to know the really lovely, bubbly, full of life you this week.
“Thanks for a great week and so looking forward to our strictly journey ahead! Let’s do this.”
Thomas responded in the comments: “Reallly really enjoyed training with you this week. You are honestly an amazing person and everything you have been through…. Shows how strong and inspiring you are.
“I promise I won’t let you down. I might not be the best dancer. But I promise I’ll be the hardest worker.
Life ain’t easy. I’ve been kicked down an called every name under the sun recently and probably some of it I deserve, as yes I ain’t always right. But since I got invited to have a BBQ with JD Vance….its gone crazy. Certain people are doing everythin they can to ruin me. Mainly…
— Thomas Skinner ⚒ (@iamtomskinner) September 21, 2025
“Thank you for being so kind and lovely to me and I’ve enjoyed your company so much. I ain’t stopped laughing with ya. Can’t wait to get on that dance floor with ya next week. Bosh.”
Many were “beyond excited” to see Amy return to the dance floor yesterday evening after she was forced to withdraw from the show in 2024 due to a stress fracture in her foot, following her breast cancer diagnosis.
Former Coronation Street star Lucy-Jo Hudson replied: “So good to see you back.”
One fan wrote: “so beyond excited for you ames!!”
Another put: “Love you Amy, so nice to see your beautiful face back x.”
Recommended reading:
- 'I'm out' - Strictly fans all have same complaint moments into 2025 launch show
- Are you a real Strictly fan? Try this quiz - see if you are a glitterball winner
- Strictly Come Dancing fans spot first big change of new series but are 'so glad'
Strictly Come Dancing pairings 2025 - full list
The Strictly couples revealed for this year are as follows:
- Lewis Cope and Katya Jones
- La Voix and Aljaž Škorjanec
- Karen Carney and Carlos Gu
- Ross King and Jowita Przystal
- Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe
- Vicky Pattison and Kai Widdrington
- Stefan Dennis and Dianne Buswell
- Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin
- Chris Robshaw and Nadiya Bychkova
- Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Karen Hauer
- Thomas Skinner and Amy Dowden
- George Clarke and Alexis Warr
- Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon
- Ellie Goldstein and Vito Coppola
- Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Lauren Oakley
Strictly Come Dancing 2025 returns Saturday, September 27 from 6.55pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
Share