What did Wynne Evans say that led to Strictly live tour axe?

A few days after it was reported Wynne Evans had made a crude remark directed at a fellow Strictly Come Dancing star, he’s now been axed from the live tour and taken a break from his BBC radio show.

Last week the Welsh opera singer, 52, was filmed joking about a three-way – or ‘spit roast’ – involving Strictly Live presenter and professional dancer Janette Manrara.

Soon after Evans, who had been travelling the country as part of the BBC show’s live tour, issued a public apology and said his language was ‘inappropriate and unacceptable’.

Then, on Tuesday, he went on to confirm he was ‘taking time out’ from his public commitments to ‘prioritise my wellbeing’ and focus on ‘self-reflection’ too.

However, since then it’s also been reported Evans has split from his girlfriend after she was left ‘humiliated’ by his behaviour.

Here’s everything we know about the fallout, as well as another controversy Evans found himself at the centre of during his time on Strictly last year.

What did Wynne Evans say that lead to him leaving the Strictly tour?

During a photocall for the live tour at Birmingham Arena last week, Evans was filmed making the sexual remark.

Although Manrara’s reaction couldn’t be seen in the footage, EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick reportedly winced at the comment.

Describing the moment, Daily Mail journalist Dolly Busby wrote: ‘As I filmed, he made a deeply abhorrent sexual comment about a female colleague.’

She continued: ‘It was frankly disgusting – and, as a young woman, I was appalled on her behalf and deeply offended myself.

‘Turning to the 30-year-old EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick as they posed for a group photo, Evans suggested – joking, if you can call it that – a three-way sex act.’

A spokesman for BBC Studios and the Strictly Live Tour producers said while they were ‘not previously aware of the remark and did not receive any complaints’, they had ‘made it very clear to Wynne that we do not tolerate such behaviour on the tour’.

When announcing his exit from the live tour, Evans also apologised to people he ‘won’t get to see at the remaining performances’

‘I’m grateful to my fellow tour gang for all the amazing support they have given me,’ he added.

How have other Strictly stars responded?

In the past few days, Evans’ Strictly professional partner Katya Jones has repeatedly expressed support for him.

She first showed solidarity by sharing an image with him, along with Borthwick and Tasha Ghouri, on social media and captioning it ‘tour fam’.

Originally posted by Ghouri to her own Instagram story, the image shows the four stars at a bar together, sharing a drink and a hug.

Then after Evans posted his statement on Tuesday evening, she reposted it and added: ‘Let’s show humanity and consideration. I will miss you my darling boy.’

She then posted a clip of Wynne on stage, adding: ‘Really missed this tonight,’ with a sad face.

Despite her support, a source told the Daily Mail that Manrara’s husband Aljaž Škorjanec was ‘furious’ by the comment directed at her.

What controversies did he face while on Strictly?

During an episode of Strictly last year Evans was accused of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ after Jones appeared to forcibly remove his hand from her waist, and then reject his offer of a high five.

However addressing the furore soon after the show aired, Jones said in a video alongside Evans that it was nothing more than a ‘very silly joke’.

A few days later she said the following on It Takes Two: ‘I have to address something that I feel like overshadowed our performance for absolutely no reason, and, quite frankly, I can’t bear sitting here watching this man being portrayed as someone he’s not.

‘And, in fact, it couldn’t be further away from the truth, so I have to make this absolutely clear that this whole incident with the hand and the hand and the high-five on Saturday night 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 total nonsense. Those that have doubts, you guys have got it wrong.’

At the time Evans said the moment had been ‘totally misinterpreted’, adding he felt ‘weird apologising because I feel like I’ve not really done anything’.

Strictly Come Dancing is streaming on BBC iPlayer.

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