TV star Narinder Kaur has slammed the BBC after Strictly Come Dancing unveiled ex-Apprentice icon Tom Skinner as a shock contestant.

Mr Skinner, 34, who was recently snapped alongside US Vice President JD Vance, will challenge ex-Love Island contestant Dani Dyer and former Chelsea star Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink for the coveted prize in the 2025 season.

However, Ms Kaur, a Jeremy Vine panellist and former Big Brother star, claimed she was deemed too controversial to participate in the competition.

The 52-year-old said: “Apparently I was deemed too controversial for @bbcstrictly because they only hire quiet brown and black women that fit in a box.

“But you can be a white man AND be controversial and you’ll be hired on the spot! Hello Thomas Skinner!!”

She added: “There’s only so much you can say in a short video, but I felt something many others have been feeling all day and that was complete shock and utter bewilderment – to see Thomas be announced in the line-up, considering all the rhetoric about how people with right-wing opinions are cancelled and not allowed on the BBC.

“I’ve debated Tom on Good Morning Britain before, I supported his book release at his launch party, there is a huge disparity in what certain demographics of people are allowed to say and still get one show after another.

“I met the Strictly team at the TV Choice Awards earlier this year and got talking to one of the bookers about the show generally – and she said ‘You’re a bit too controversial and we can’t have that for the show’.”

Ms Kaur’s attack on the ex-Apprentice contestant comes just days after Mr Skinner claimed he had received “death threats” and “vile comments about my children”.

In other social media posts, Mr Skinner said it is “not far-right” to be “flying your flag and loving your country”.

He also complained “it ain’t safe out there anymore” in London, saying the city is “hostile” and “tense”.

Mr Skinner is widely tipped as a potential candidate for the next London Mayoral Election, with the 34-year-old reportedly being approached by three major political parties to stand in 2028.

After Mr Skinner complained about the abuse he received, Mr Vance replied: “Hang in there, my friend. Remember that 90 percent of people attacking your family look like this.”

After being unveiled as a Strictly Come Dancing contestant, Mr Skinner wrote: “They say don’t read the comments on social media. But I couldn’t help myself.

“I’ve had absolute pellets all day on my Instagram lost about going on Strictly… Why are some people so angry that don’t even know me.”

Mr Skinner will challenge former Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison, Neighbours actor Stefan Dennis and former England rugby captain Chris Robshaw when the series starts on September 20.

However, the 34-year-old has been priced at 12/1 by William Hill to win the 2025 series of Strictly Come Dancing.

The former Apprentice candidate and popular media personality sits sixth in the outright market for the Glitterball Trophy.