Strictly fans left raging over 'diabolical' scoring after Thomas Skinner performance

Strictly Come Dancing is back with a bang after last night’s (Saturday 27 September) live show saw the 15 new celebrities take to the dancefloor for their first dances with their professional partners.

The Apprentice star Thomas Skinner and his partner Amy Dowden performed a Paso Doble to Hotei’s Battle Without Honor or Humanity and garnered a score of 16 out of 40 from the judges.

Anton Du Beke told him: “I need a bit more next week,” as Craig Revel Horwood said in his usual fashion: “It was very square, flat and stumpy and it was more tin soldier than it was matador. It wasn't for me at all.”

A more encouraging Motsi Mabuse admitted: “What we needed was more shaping,” while Shirley Ballas enthused: “I was quite impressed, well done."

However, viewers at home thought the judges were way too easy on the reality star and flocked to the comments section to share exactly what they thought. One person wrote: “Thomas skinner only being 1 point behind Balvinder is actually diabolical #strictly.”

READ MORE: Strictly’s pregnant Dianne shows off bump in first live show as she makes sweet baby admission

READ MORE: How Strictly's Shirley Ballas really reacted to judging twist that takes away her power

Another unimpressed social media user expressed: “Strictly you have Balvinda who's amazing, then you get Thomas who's not, but gets 5s whatever judges!!!”

Somebody else fumed: “Anton thinking Amber Davies was only 1 point better than Thomas Skinhead Skinner is asinine to me."

While a fourth added: “Shirley giving Thomas more than Balvinder, someone make that make sense."

When it was first announced he would be joining the competition series, his signing was met with criticism thanks to his previous outspoken nature and rants on Twitter.

Speaking ahead of the first live show, Thomas had said: "Well, I love Strictly because it’s a family show. I’ve got three young kids, and I can’t wait for them to watch me dance.

"It’s my mum’s favourite show as well. It’s an opportunity to learn how to dance and I don’t know how to dance at all! But I love a challenge, I love setting myself goals.

"Most people probably think, 'Tom’s not going to be able to do this', so I really want to prove them wrong," he continued. "I want to be in people’s front rooms on a Saturday night, showing them that I can dance."

Discussing what had surprised him about his Strictly journey so far, he said: "I was at a West Ham game just after I was announced for Strictly, and I got stopped by so many fellas telling me they were going to watch Strictly for the first time because of me! I wasn’t expecting that."

Before this series had even begun, Thomas found himself in the eye of the storm after having an outburst during a press meet and snatching a reporters phone before storming out of the interview.

He then revealed he had an affair with aesthetician Amy-Lucy O’Rourke just weeks after his wedding to wife Sinead.

Speaking to theDaily Mail, Thomas said: "It took a long, long time for her to forgive me and we have worked at it. I will never say I'm perfect but it was hard seeing my wife relive all of this. But she said that it wouldn't break us, it wouldn't ruin us. She told me that she loves me to pieces and I love her."

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Threads.