Strictly Come Dancing contestant Thomas Skinner has admitted cheating on his wife just weeks after their wedding, according to reports.
The former Apprentice contestant, 34, told the Sun on Sunday he had a âflingâ with an âattractiveâ single mum who gave him a free cosmetic treatment after they met in a pub.
The newspaper said the woman is Amy-Lucy OâRourke, 35, and their affair took place three and a half years ago.
Skinner, who has three children with his wife, said in the video interview: âIâm just so lucky that she forgave me. When I told my wife, I fully understood if she were to never speak to me again.
âIt just shows you that 10 minutes can just ruin your whole lifeâ.
He added: âI had a fling, I suppose, it was nothing more than that, it was the one time, it was a mistake, then I woke up feeling absolutely terrible about itâ.
The married couple were not arguing or having relationship troubles but it was âjust me in a moment of madnessâ, Skinner said.
The aftermath âwas a very, very dark timeâ, he said, adding that his wife ânever deserved that, sheâs such a good person, without her I wouldnât be where I am today â she made meâ.
He advised anyone who has made a mistake to âbe honest and own up to itâ, and said âwe are in an incredible place. Itâs forgotten about and weâve moved on from it nowâ.
In a statement to the paper, a spokeswoman for Ms OâRourke said: âThis has been an incredibly stressful chapter in her life.
âShe did not have a fling with Mr Skinner, she had a relationship with him.â
This comes after days Skinner apologised for picking up a journalistâs phone and walking out of a Strictly Come Dancing press event midway through.
He later said his departure from Tuesdayâs event was not related to the BBC dancing show, and claimed he did so because he had seen messages about his past on the reporterâs phone.
Skinner was reported to have grabbed the phone and walked out after objecting to being recorded by a journalist.
He has previously drawn strong criticism for X posts saying it is ânot far-rightâ to be âflying your flag and loving your countryâ, and complaining âit ainât safe out there any moreâ in London, saying the city is âhostileâ and âtenseâ.
Skinner will join fellow stars such as Love Island winner Dani Dyer-Bowen, Gladiator Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and CBBC actress Ellie Goldstein, who is to become the first contestant with Downâs syndrome to take part in Strictlyâs full series, when the show returns later this year.
