I was riding wave of Covid. Million pound deals were the norm. Insane

Skinner 'cleaned up' during lockdown.. but loan not paid

- EXCLUSIVE BY TOM BRYANT Associate Editor, Showbiz

STRICTLY contestant Thomas Skinner boasted of "cleaning up" during Covid - but one of his firms has yet to repay a £50,000 government loan.

The Fluffy Pillow Company, which lists Mr Skinner as its only director, applied for the government scheme in 2020.

But five years later, there is no record of it having paid any of the money back.

Mr Skinner claimed the pandemic was good for business.

The Fluffy Pillow Company's Instagram page shows Mr Skinner delivering mattresses, beds and pillows throughout 2020.

And he said of a second company, Bosh Beds: "We was cleaning up. Everyone's got loads of money. It was so easy... I put a [social media] post up, it would take £30,000 worth of orders."

BOOMING

He added: "I was riding a wave on the back of Covid... millionpound deals were the norm every couple of months. It was insane."

Mr Skinner first came to public attention on The Apprentice in 2019, which aired months before the pandemic.

He said of The Fluffy Pillow Company: "I'd just moved to this lovely house. I'd bought a big car.