Thomas Skinner has swapped the boardroom for the ballroom for Strictly Come Dancing 2025 – but who is he?
The businessman, who has been paired with Strictly favourite Amy Dowden on the BBC show, admits he has “never danced in his life”, apart from at weddings.
But he has promised pro dancer Amy: “I might not be the best dancer, but I’ll be the hardest worker. I promise I won’t let Amy down.”
What do we know about Thomas Skinner? Here is a deep dive into his life, how old he is, when he was on BBC One‘s The Apprentice and what he does now.
Who is Thomas Skinner? How old is he?
Thomas Skinner was born in Romford, East London, on February 20, 1991. This makes him 34 years old. He grew up in a working class family and money was often tight. But thanks to a full scholarship for sport, Thomas was able to attend Brentwood School. This is an independent day and boarding school in Essex.
By the age of 12, Thomas got himself a paper round. By 16, he was running his own market stall. Thomas struggled academically at school and was diagnosed with dyslexia. He previously said: “I’m dyslexic, I can’t even fill out a form and I’m no good at paperwork.”
Thomas was expelled before he took his GCSEs. Last month, he wrote on X: “I got a sports scholarship to a fantastic sports academy school, that I later got expelled for ( for selling po*** dvds my dad got from me off his mate in the pub so I could have a few more quid in me pocket) and I was an idiot when I was younger.”
When was Thomas Skinner on The Apprentice?
Thomas Skinner first gained national attention when he appeared on the 15th series of The Apprentice in 2019. But Thomas’ big personality was both his greatest strength and weakness on the BBC show. He sometimes got in trouble for running his mouth, although no one could deny his enthusiasm for the tasks in hand. Even when his team lost, Thomas stayed in high spirits.
Thomas’ pitch to Lord Alan Sugar was based around his small business at the time, The Fluffy Pillow Company. He was wanting Lord Sugar’s investment to grow the firm. But unfortunately, Thomas was fired in a double elimination during Week 9.
Lord Sugar said of Thomas in his exit speech: “If this was a war and I was a General and we were in the trenches, who would I take with me? Him. That’s what I would do. But we’re not in a war. We’re in business.”
The winner of The Apprentice in 2019 was Carina Lepore, who ran an artisan bakery. But Thomas was the breakout star of the series. Viewers were captivated by his outspoken and larger-than-life personality.
Thomas immediately used the publicity of the show to drive up sales for The Pillow Company. He told his followers on X: “I wanna thank all my fantastic new customers! I’ve had the best week I’ve ever had selling pillows, beds and mattresses!
“Been so busy packaging up pillows to send out and ain’t stopped doing deliveries! I’m so grateful! Going on The Apprentice has changed my life! Thank you all.”
Some fans were so dedicated they even bought pillows they didn’t need. One customer admitted: “Just ordered a couple of pillows, don’t really need them but wanted to support your business. Best of luck in the future, most honest and happiest candidate ever.”
What does Thomas Skinner do now?
After the show, Thomas leaned into his new public profile and gained more than 660,000 Instagram followers – and he knew just how to work them. The canny businessman went viral several times for posting videos of his whopping 6am breakfasts, which included everything from Sunday roasts to shepherd’s pie.
Thomas was quickly able to forge his own TV career off the back of his growing popularity. He appeared on Celebrity MasterChef in 2020 and made it to the semi-finals. He has taken part in Channel 4‘s panel game show, 8 Out of 10 Cats and Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel. His specialist subject was Business, although he incorrectly said the FT in FTSE stood for ‘Futures Trading’. It actually stands for Financial Times.
Earlier this year, Thomas took part in the reboot of Channel 4 show, Faking It. He worked as a mentor for luxury estate agent Rex, who was ‘faking it’ as a market trader. Thomas has also published a motivational book called Graft: How to Smash Life. In it, he gives readers advice on how to become successful based on stories from his own journey to fame.
After his book launch, Thomas told Virgin Radio: “I’ve always worked hard. It weren’t too long ago, I used to sleep on a pull out futon on the floor downstairs at my mum’s house… [it’s] through hard work I’ve got to where I’ve got to.”
Who is Thomas Skinner married to?
Thomas is married to wife Sinéad, who he refers to as ‘the love of his life’. The couple first met in a London bar in 2018 and, by 2020, Tom had proposed. He popped the question in a restaurant that he booked out just for the two of them. Their friends and family hid in the establishment and waited to surprise Sinéad with a celebration after she said “yes”.
The couple tied the knot two years later, in May 2022. The Apprentice star was giddy with excitement, telling followers the night before: “I’m getting married tomorrow. I can’t believe it.” He then admitted he hadn’t bought a shirt yet…
The couple’s marriage has not been without challenges, however. Thomas recently admitted he had a fling with another woman two weeks before his and Sinead’s wedding. Sinéad has since publicly forgiven him.
How many children does Thomas Skinner have?
Thomas Skinner and his wife Sinéad are parents to three children. Their first son, Henry, was born in November 2020 but Thomas was not able to be by Sinéad’s side due to Covid restrictions. This was made harder given it was a difficult labour.
Tom later told OK! magazine: “It was well scary. Sinead rang me up crying, and I couldn’t do anything to help. I just panicked so much. But the team that looked after her, the midwives and the doctors, were fantastic.”
The couple expanded their family in 2023 with the arrival of their twin girls, Darla and Roma. Thomas claims he knew Sinéad was having twins before the doctors even revealed it, quipping: “I just…had a feeling.”
Thomas says his children are at the heart of everything he does. He previously joked about needing a “minibus” if they expand their brood. He recently told fans on social media: “Family is everything to me. It’s what I do everything for.”
Where does Thomas Skinner live?
Thomas still lives in East London’s Romford – where he grew up – with his wife Sinéad and their three children. The entrepreneur is a big fan of Dino’s Cafe in nearby Leyton. This is one of the spots where he chows down on his enormous breakfasts.
Thomas is proud of his roots and often references his “grafter” background. The family live in a big family home with an open-plan kitchen, makeshift gym in the garden, and a conservatory.
He previously told Essex Live how proud he is to be from his local area, gushing: “Romford is the centre of the universe. People…don’t often go outside and look at how beautiful the area we live in is.”
Why does Thomas Skinner say ‘bosh’?
Thomas has used the catchphrase “bosh’ throughout his working life to celebrate big wins in business. He became known for the term during his time on The Apprentice, frequently saying it on the BBC show.
Thomas is believed to say “bosh” when closing business deals. He also uses it to finish his social media posts. Whether he’s posting videos of himself eating a roast dinner at 6am, delivering pillows, or wishing his followers a good day, “bosh” is Thomas’ way of signalling his enthusiasm.
What businesses does Thomas Skinner own?
Thomas is still listed as the director of The Fluffy Pillow Company on Companies House, although the business was hit financially during the Covid pandemic.
Thomas is also the face of Bosh Gym, a boxing gym in Brentwood, Essex. In 2024 he encouraged gym-goers to anonymously hand in any knives they might own at an amnesty box in the gym, in an attempt to lower English crime rates.
When is Thomas Skinner on Strictly Come Dancing?
Thomas was revealed as one of the new stars of Strictly Come Dancing in August this year. He will dance for the first time with pro partner, Amy Dowden, during the Week 1 live shows on Saturday September 27, 2025.
Amy describes Tom as “lovely, bubbly, and full of life”. She adds: “Tom is working so hard and loving learning to dance (more than he ever imagined). We are laughing lots too!”
Read more: Strictly star Brendan Cole slams ‘irritating’ Thomas Skinner as he sympathises with Amy Dowden
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