Where did it all go wrong for Wynne Evans? Inside his disastrous Strictly journey from ‘gropes’ to jibes
HE was everybody’s favourite opera singer from the world’s most annoying advert – bursting with potential on the dance floor.
But today Wynne Evans is at the centre of another Strictly controversy and fans have been left baffled about why his journey on the dance competition went so wrong?
The Welsh opera singer, 52, was unable to dance at last night’s live tour stop in Glasgow due to an ankle injury.
Behind the scenes though, he had something much more important going on – he was being quizzed over his latest gaffe.
Just last week he was recorded suggesting a three-way sex session with presenter Janette Manrara, using the term “spit roast”.
His remark came at a photocall to launch the Strictly live tour, which pro Janette, 41, is hosting.
He reportedly pulled a suggestive face at actor Jamie Borthwick as Janette moved between them — which is when Evans allegedly made the joke.
Wynne has apologised saying: “My language was inappropriate and unacceptable, for which I sincerely apologise.”
BBC and Strictly Live producers said: “We have made it clear to Wynne we do not tolerate such behaviour on tour.”
Janette’s spokeswoman said she had been “unaware of this comment”.
‘Grope’ joke
It comes just months after Wynne and his pro partner Katya Jones were forced to say sorry for a “joke” that saw her move his hand from her waist during the BBC show.
In another moment, Jones appeared to not want to high-five her celebrity partner, which they called “a running joke”.
Wynne revealed his upset over the situation, telling his Radio Wales listeners: “I’m absolutely heartbroken by the things that have been written about me in the last day.
“It’s not nice to live in that time, but basically Katya and I are really, really close and we’re really good friends, and on Saturday night we made a stupid joke.
“It was a stupid joke that went wrong, OK? We thought it was funny. It wasn’t funny.
“It was been totally misinterpreted.”
At the time Katya insisted that the controversy had overshadowed their performance “for absolutely no reason”.
She added: “Quite frankly I actually can’t bear sitting here watching this man being portrayed as someone he’s not.
“In fact it couldn’t be further away from the truth.
“So I have to make absolutely clear, that this whole incident with the hand and the high five on Saturday night, it was an inside joke between Wynne and I.
“Was it a silly joke? Yes. Was it a bad joke? Yes.
“However, it was a joke and even the idea that it made me feel uncomfortable or offended in any way is totally nonsense.
“Those that have doubts, you guys have got it wrong.
“So hopefully this will be the end of it.”
Unfortunately it wasn’t the end of it for the pair and they ended up getting the boot not long after.
Crude comment
It then emerged that Wynne come under fire again for allegedly telling a “crude” joke to one of the show’s make-up artists.
Insiders claim the opera star made a joke that the folds of his double chin “looked like a vagina”.
According to the Mirror, he made the remark ahead of the Strictly Come Dancing launch show last month.
A source told the outlet: “It was a bit of a vulgar dad joke.”
No official complaint has been made, and the insider added: “Wynne clearly didn’t mean any offence, but you have to be a little bit careful these days.”
Chaperones have been put in place on Strictly during rehearsals last year after a review was launched by the BBC following contestant complaints.
Wynne also performed in the 25th anniversary of The Phantom Of The Opera and won 2023’s Celebrity MasterChef.