Overview

• BBC insiders say they cannot control the contestant’s online behavior because he is not BBC staff, beyond asking his management to step in.
• Sources expect he will avoid an early exit, with public curiosity and Amy Dowden’s strong fanbase likely to keep the pair in.
• After the pre-recorded launch aired, Skinner posted a lengthy X rant saying he “won’t be cancelled,” adding he is “still here… still standin’.
• He described recent weeks for him and his family as “horrific,” following scrutiny that includes his admitted affair shortly after his wedding.
• New reports highlight further backlash over his political posts and attendance at a JD Vance barbecue, as former pro Brendan Cole urged him to ignore trolls.