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The allegation raises questions about transparency and consumer trust in paid-for television voting systems.
Former Thomas Skinner has alleged that the BBC interfered with the public vote on Strictly Come Dancing, a claim the broadcaster denies.
Skinner, who was the first contestant eliminated from the current series, said he received an anonymous email after his exit that purported to show internal voting data suggesting he had attracted more public support than the result broadcast on air.
There is currently no publicly verified evidence that the Strictly vote was rigged.
The BBC says the voting process is independently overseen and accurately verified.
The issue matters because Strictly encourages public participation through phone and online voting that can involve charges, making transparency and consumer protection central to public trust in televised competitions.
Skinner has said the anonymous email claimed to include voting statistics and alleged internal concern within the BBC about reputational issues linked to him.
He has stated publicly that he sought access to official voting tallies to confirm the claims but was told detailed figures are not disclosed.
The BBC has said Skinner has not provided the email to the corporation despite requests, limiting any assessment of its authenticity or claims.
The BBC has rejected claims that the Strictly Come Dancing vote was manipulated and says the programme’s public voting process is independently overseen and verified to ensure accuracy.
Vote verification is carried out by PromoVeritas, a specialist firm that audits promotional and broadcast voting systems. The company has said that all votes are validated and independently checked by two auditors before results are confirmed.
Independent verification firms have been widely used by UK broadcasters since earlier television voting controversies in the 2000s, which led to tighter scrutiny of paid-for audience participation.
These systems are designed to confirm vote counts, detect irregularities, and ensure outcomes reflect verified data before being broadcast.
Broadcasters typically announce results without releasing full voting totals. Industry practice limits disclosure to reduce the risk of misuse, protect participants from targeting or harassment, and avoid misleading interpretations of close or multi-variable voting outcomes.
According to Skinner, he was told that individual voting tallies have never been shared with contestants, a position consistent with how similar entertainment formats operate across UK television.
Paid-for TV voting falls under consumer protection rules overseen by Ofcom, which regulates premium-rate services such as phone voting. Ofcom requires broadcasters to have systems that ensure fair handling, accurate recording, and proper verification of paid audience participation.
Ofcom does not usually intervene in individual disputes unless there is evidence of systemic failure or regulatory breaches.
Media reports have suggested Skinner may be considering legal action, but the BBC has said it is not aware of any formal complaint or legal filing related to the vote. No regulatory investigation has been publicly confirmed.
Whether the issue escalates may depend on whether further evidence is produced or a formal complaint is lodged.
The BBC rigged Strictly vote allegation rests on an anonymous email that has not been independently verified and has been rejected by both the broadcaster and its external auditors.
The issue carries wider significance because paid-for voting relies on public confidence that results are handled accurately and fairly.
UK broadcasting rules focus on verified processes rather than publishing full vote counts, placing emphasis on audit integrity over transparency of raw data.
Any further scrutiny is likely to depend on whether supporting evidence is made public or whether a formal regulatory or legal complaint is pursued.
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