Strictly signing Wynne Evans’ struggle with suicidal thoughts as he faced marriage breakdown
STRICTLY Come Dancing star Wynne Evans has previously opened up about his suicidal thoughts before signing up to the TV show.
Wynne was left feeling at rock bottom after a painful marriage breakdown that left him questioning himself.
The GoCompare advert star was left feeling suicidal towards the end of 2016 after he came to terms with his relationship split.
In a heartbreaking admission, Wynne described the dark time as “the saddest [he’d] ever been in [his] life”.
Confessing he had fallen into a deep depression, he was forced to put up a front whilst hosting his local radio show in Wales despite dealing with his issues behind closed doors.
In an interview with WalesOnline, Wynne said: “I was doing a daily radio show where the feel of it is upbeat and keeping people in a good mood and cheering up the nation.
“The strapline of my show is, ‘cheering Wales up by one o’clock,’ but I was going through the worst depression, clinical depression.
“I would think about [suicide], I would try and action it… I couldn’t see a way out; I couldn’t see a way of ever being happy again.”
Wynne further added: “I was feeling suicidal, and it was terrible.
“I just thought, I’m either going to do something terrible or I need to go and see a proper psychiatrist.”
Elsewhere, he admitted that lockdown also took its toll on him during an interview with ITV Wales.
He recalled: “You get to a stage where you sort of think, ‘is this it’?
“Am I going to feel this sad forever?
“The second lockdown really was not good for me. The amount of nights I sat here crying – for a reason of loneliness, really.
“The really dark places that I’ve been to, where my thoughts were of taking my own life, and going to the point of getting everything ready – there’s almost a sense of relief at that point, because you’ve made the decision to do what you want to do.”
Wynne has made a commitment to keeping a spotlight on mental health issues in a bid to keep the issue from becoming more taboo.
The star is hoping that his impending turn on the Strictly dancefloor will keep his spirits high.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
He was unveiled as a star on the show during an appearance on BBC Radio 2.
“I love the glitz, the glamour and all of that so I’m well up for it,” said Wynne.
“I can’t believe it because it’s all cloak and daggers,” he said.
“You go for an audition, then you’re given a code name which is my favourite part of the whole thing.”
The opera singer said he’s most looking forward to doing the waltz – but is dreading the jive.
Wynne said: “The stuff I’m more nervous about is doing something like the jive because I represent every portly middle-aged father who jumps and could set a minor tsunami off in North London.
“I’m kind of a bit nervous about that, but I’m taking inspiration from Bill Bailey.”
Who's confirmed for Strictly 2024?
WITH Strictly's 20th anniversary special airing in September, The Sun takes a look at which celebs have been confirmed so far:
- Olympic hero Sam Quek.
- Towie legend Pete Wicks.
- Love Island star Tasha Ghouri.
- Morning Live star Dr Punam Krishan.
- 80s legend and singer Toyah Willcox.
- Opera singer Wynne Evans.
- JLS singer JB Gill.
- Comedian Chris McCausland.