The BBC has denied Thomas Skinner’s claim that he was offered £2,000 to go on Question Time after his controversial appearance on the show.
The scandal-prone Strictly star took part in the BBC One show’s panel on Thursday (26 March). While he hit out at the Labour government for “smacking small businesses left, right and centre”, his comments on the divisive nature of social media were met with criticism.
Skinner said that he tried to “spread a bit of positivity and a bit of love” online despite being criticised for his political beliefs, leading host Fiona Bruce to ask whether he’s “part of the problem” due to the “addictive algorithm” that pushes his content. Meanwhile, some viewers recalled one of Skinner’s tweets in February, in which he called Green Party leader Zach Polanski a “massive b******”.
Following his Question Time appearance, Skinner took to social media to clarify that he wasn’t on the show to represent Reform UK despite revealing in January that he had joined the political party.
“I’m not there representing any party,” he said on X. “I’m there because it pays £2,000 and I like watching Question Time…. I’ve been asked probably nine or 10 times to attend over the last four or five years.
“So I decided to give it a go. And I really enjoyed it.”
The BBC has since denied this was the case, with a spokesperson telling The Independent: “Question Time offers a fee of £150 to panellists who aren’t politicians.”
The show also does not pay any elected or serving politicians who appear on the show.
After being challenged on social media by former Big Brother contestant Narinder Kaur following the BBC’s statement, Skinner doubled down, tweeting: “No mate seriously. I honestly agreed £2,000 for me to go on it.
“And I agreeed [sic] that they pay me driver £400 on the night to take me and bring me back. Which he had already been paid. I wasn’t fishing. I was telling the truth.”
In a statement given to The Sun, Skinner also said that his “understanding of the fee” came directly from his management, who he claimed told him that he would be paid £2,000.
“I’m a big fan of Question Time and really enjoyed being part of the show,” he said. “At the same time, it is work for me, and with three kids, I have to treat these opportunities as part of my job.”
Skinner’s relationship with the BBC has been fraught at times following his short time on Strictly Come Dancing last year.
The show faced backlash after he was cast on the 2025 series due to his friendship with US vice president JD Vance. He became the first star to be voted off the series and later snubbed the final.
In December, he said that he was sent an anonymous email that claimed he’d “received far more votes than it appeared” on the show and that he had been advised to seek legal advice. He also claimed that “everyone received a welcome gift on the show” except for him, being told that it was “stolen”.
A spokesperson for the BBC said at the time that Strictly’s public vote is “independently overseen and verified to ensure complete accuracy every week” and that claims to the contrary are “entirely without foundation”. They added that the Strictly production team “categorically did not supply ‘welcome gifts’ to any of the cast”.
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