In response to the criticism, Skinner told the Daily Mail last month: “I’m not right-wing. People are like sheep and just started saying it because I got invited to go to BBQ with JD Vance and I posted a picture with him.
“Who is gonna turn down an opportunity to meet the second most powerful man in the world?”
Earlier on Tuesday, BBC director general Tim Davie defended the decision to cast Skinner in Strictly, which starts later this month.
Speaking to MPs on the House of Commons culture, media and sport select committee, Mr Davie said: “That was not my decision, that was the production team looking for those people… who want to do Strictly, and those people they thought would be interesting to the audience.”
Mr Davie added: “Clearly, we wouldn’t take anyone whose views are just beyond the pale, or we would see as completely unacceptable or not suitable, racist views, all those things, we wouldn’t accept them.
“But that’s not the case here, from what I know. I’m not an expert on the individual, per se.”