Once celebrated as the cheeky Essex lad turned savvy businessman, Thomas Skinner’s carefully crafted public persona now faces serious scrutiny.
Since bursting onto the scene in the BBC’s The Apprentice in 2017, Skinner has been admired as a lovable, generous family man.
But recent revelations from his former lover, Amy-Lucy O’Rourke, have cast a shadow over that image.
Affair Uncovered and Lies Revealed
Amy-Lucy, 35, an aesthetician and mother of one, claims she discovered Skinner’s marriage to wife Sinead was not the sham he had led her to believe.
She says their affair began in the summer of 2022, just weeks after Skinner’s wedding in May.
At the time, he allegedly told her the marriage was one of convenience. By July, Amy-Lucy realized he had lied and ended their relationship.
Confrontation Outside Brentwood Home
Things reportedly escalated dramatically when Skinner allegedly showed up at Amy-Lucy’s Brentwood, Essex home demanding to speak with her.
Footage from her Ring doorbell shows him lingering on her doorstep for over a minute despite her repeated requests for him to leave.
She says he even attempted to push his way inside before she stopped him.
In a dramatic turn, Amy-Lucy left her home briefly to smash the windscreen of Skinner’s Mercedes 4×4, parked outside.
She also shared that he sent her a series of texts after the breakup, calling her a “crazy lady” and “insane.”
Memories of the Affair
In exclusive interviews, Amy-Lucy recounted the months-long affair and her heartbreak at how Skinner has publicly downplayed their relationship.
She claims he told her he was in love with her and unhappy in his marriage, painting a picture of a dream romance.
“Thomas told me I was the love of his life and sold me an absolute dream,” she said.
They were often seen together in public, acting like a couple deeply in love.
However, Skinner has told other media outlets that the affair was nothing more than a brief, meaningless fling.
In an interview with The Sun on Sunday, he described it as “a mistake” and a moment of guilt, claiming he told his wife immediately.
Disputing Skinner’s Version
Amy-Lucy disputes his account, insisting that Skinner did not confess to his wife and instead played both women emotionally.
“He tried to keep the lie up for weeks and was torturing me emotionally,” she said.
According to her, Skinner sent a late-night text declaring his love on July 3, 2022, six weeks after his wedding.
Evidence of a Deeper Relationship
Amy-Lucy also provided videos showing that their connection was more than fleeting.
In one, Skinner is seen giving her a rose crafted from a white napkin in a sunny pub garden. In another, he jokes about feeling “kidnapped” by her.
She recalls domestic gestures too, like cooking for her and taking her car to get it fixed.
“Thomas made me believe everything was perfect and that we were meant to be, but he’s a liar and a cheat,” she said.
“He is definitely not what he portrays himself to be on social media.”
Strictly Come Dancing Debut Looms
This controversy comes as Skinner prepares to make his debut on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing this Saturday, casting a new light on the public’s perception of the television personality who once charmed audiences as the Essex “cheeky chappie.”