Thomas Skinner hits the Strictly dance floor for the first time

It has been a tumultuous week for Strictly Come Dancing's Thomas Skinner.

But despite the former Apprentice star and friend of US Vice-President JD Vance confessing to his wife Sinead that he had had an affair just weeks after their wedding, she was there to support him as he made his debut on the BBC show.

Friends of Skinner have told The Mail on Sunday that Sinead plans to cheer on her husband throughout the series, despite revelations that he cheated on her with aesthetician Amy-Lucy O'Rourke in the summer of 2022.

Despite his cheeky-chappy bravado, the father of three said that he was 'very nervous' about taking part in Strictly, but thrilled last night to be paired with Amy Dowden.

The Welsh dancer, 35, was diagnosed with grade-three breast cancer in May 2023 and returned to the Strictly cast last series after undergoing chemotherapy. However, she was forced to pull out when she was paired with boyband singer JB Gill, after suffering a stress fracture in her leg.

The fact that BBC bosses have paired Ms Dowden with Skinner is a sign, show insiders say, that they are keen for him to win.

A friend of Skinner's told The Mail on Sunday: 'He is terrified, absolutely terrified of dancing. He had no idea how good or bad he might