Wynne Evans was caught on film by The Mail on Sunday making a vile sexual comment about one of the show’s female hosts, it emerged on Saturday.
But this is not the first time Evans has threatened the reputation of the BBC’s biggest show as it attempts to recover from a string of scandals.
On last year’s TV broadcasts, a 52-year-old individual faced accusations of inappropriate behavior with his dance partner, Katya Jones, who is 35 years old. However, both parties clarified that it was a joke that had been misinterpreted.
Subsequently, the Welsh tenor stirred up more controversy a couple of weeks later with his questionable sense of humor. He made an inappropriate comment to a make-up artist, comparing the folds of his double chin to a sensitive body part.
So as the latest scandal emerges MailOnline takes a look at his tumultuous time on the show and subsequent tour:
Wynne Evans was caught on film by The Mail on Sunday making a vile sexual comment about one of the show’s female hosts, it emerged on Saturday
But this is not the first time Evans has threatened the reputation of the BBC’s biggest show as it attempts to recover from a string of scandals
Katya Jones and his ‘wandering hand’
During the previous year’s televised programs, the older gentleman came under scrutiny for his actions towards Katya Jones. Despite their explanation that it was meant in jest and not intended in the way it was perceived, the incident raised eyebrows among viewers.
He faced criticism after viewers spotted a grimacing Katya forcibly removing his hand as it strayed across her waist as they faced the cameras backstage.
Afterwards Wynne tried to give his partner a high five, but she shot him a scathing look, rolled her eyes and turned away.
Attempting to defuse the row, the pair said they were ‘just messing around’ and that it was a ‘very silly inside joke’.
The incident caused such concern among BBC top brass, who had spent months firefighting accusations of misconduct on previous series, that a welfare investigation was conducted.
During last year’s televised shows, the 52-year-old was accused of ‘groping’ his dance partner Katya Jones, 35, although the pair dismissed it as a joke that had been misunderstood
He faced criticism after viewers spotted a grimacing Katya forcibly removing his hand as it strayed across her waist as they faced the cameras backstage
Katya had confirmed that she had not felt uncomfortable and no further action was taken.
Katya defended her celebrity partner at the time, declaring he had been ‘portrayed as someone he is not’, as the pair insisted his ‘wandering hand’ incident was a silly joke.
On It Takes Two, Wynne admitted he had watched the footage of the incident back and confessed: ‘I can see how people may have misinterpreted it.’
She said: ‘The idea that it made me feel uncomfortable or offended in any way is total nonsense, and those that have doubts, you guys have got it wrong. So hopefully this will be the end of it, and you just keep making me smile.’
She added: ‘I can’t sit 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 this absolutely clear that this whole incident, with 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.’
Wynne, who has starred in the GoCompare adverts for over a decade, claimed that he had been left ‘heartbroken’ by the fallout after some Strictly fans called for him to be axed from the show.
Afterwards Wynne tried to give his partner a high five, but she shot him a scathing look, rolled her eyes and turned away
Katya defended her celebrity partner at the time, declaring he had been ‘portrayed as someone he is not’, as the pair insisted his ‘wandering hand’ incident was a silly joke
Wynne, who has starred in the GoCompare adverts for over a decade, claimed that he had been left ‘heartbroken’ by the fallout after some Strictly fans called for him to be axed from the show
Speaking on BBC Radio Wales, where he presents a daily show, Mr Evans said: ‘I’m absolutely heartbroken by the things that have been written about me in the last day.
He said: ‘I’m absolutely heartbroken by the things that have been written about me in the last day.
‘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, okay, we thought it was funny. It wasn’t funny. It has been totally misinterpreted.
‘Everything’s on Katya’s socials. She’s talked about it. She’s explained that it was a joke. She wasn’t offended in the least. She doesn’t feel uncomfortable.
‘We’ve got a brilliant friendship, an absolutely tight friendship, and I’m sorry if anybody was offended by it, but it was a joke and yeah, that’s all there is, there is no real story, really.
‘And I feel weird apologising because I feel like I’ve not really done anything.’
‘Inappropriate’ joke to makeup artist
Two weeks later the Welsh tenor’s ‘jokes’ caused further controversy when he suggested to a make-up artist that the folds of his double chin looked like a vagina.
Evans apparently insisted his joke was self-deprecating, did not cause offence and was made in a private conversation with at least one other person in the room.
It is unclear if a complaint was made or whether the incident was investigated.
Last October insiders claimed that Wynne made the unsavoury joke ahead of the BBC contest’s glitzy launch show and was said in a private conversation with a make-up artist.
A source told The Mirror at the time: ‘It was a bit of a vulgar dad joke.’
Two weeks later the Welsh tenor’s ‘jokes’ caused further controversy when he suggested to a make-up artist that the folds of his double chin looked like a vagina
The publication stated that at least one other person was in the room at the time, adding that the make-up artist was not offended by Wynne’s joke.
The insider went on to add: ‘Wynne clearly didn’t mean any offence, but you have to be a little bit careful these days.’
A friend of Wynne’s is said to have claimed that Wynne’s cheeky comment was ‘a slice of self-deprecation’ and was said confidentially to the make-up artist while others were present.
MailOnline contacted representatives of Strictly and Wynne for comment at the time.
‘Sexual jibe’
This weekend the BBC was facing a fresh crisis after Wynne was caught on film by The Mail on Sunday making a vile sexual comment about one of the show’s female hosts.
Wynne – the tenor known for the Go Compare ads and a BBC radio presenter – was recorded crudely suggesting a three-way sex session with presenter Janette Manrara, using the hugely demeaning term ‘spit roast’.
His gross comment came at a photocall to launch the Strictly live tour and swiftly earned a rebuke from BBC bosses who told him: ‘We will not tolerate such behaviour.’
Evans’s latest crass comments came as he posed for pictures with Ms Manrara, 41, a professional dancer who is hosting the live tour, and EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick, 30.
The reaction of Ms Manrara is unclear on the footage as she is momentarily obscured by other Strictly stars. But Borthwick appears to wince as Evans sniggers to himself.
This weekend the BBC was facing a fresh crisis after Wynne was caught on film by The Mail on Sunday making a vile sexual comment about one of the show’s female hosts
Wynne – the tenor known for the Go Compare ads and a BBC radio presenter – was recorded crudely suggesting a three-way sex session with presenter Janette Manrara, using the hugely demeaning term ‘spit roast’
The incident was captured on video and audio by a Mail on Sunday reporter at the official launch of this year’s tour at the Birmingham Arena ten days ago
Evans pulled out of a Glasgow performance of the Strictly tour yesterday, citing an ankle injury. But he told The Mail on Sunday: ‘My language was inappropriate and unacceptable, for which I sincerely apologise.’
A spokesman for BBC Studios and the Strictly Live tour producers said: ‘We were not previously aware of the remark and did not receive any complaints. We have made it very clear to Wynne that we do not tolerate such behaviour on the tour.’
The incident was captured on video and audio by a Mail on Sunday reporter at the official launch of this year’s tour at the Birmingham Arena ten days ago, and brings new embarrassment to the BBC after a string of scandals.
In the MoS film Evans, a presenter on BBC Radio Wales, stands in the middle of a line-up of 20 celebrities and dancers as Ms Manrara, who hosts the TV spin-off Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, is summoned to join them. As she approaches, Evans warns her with a grin: ‘Not too close to Jamie!’
He then pulls a suggestive face at the actor, behind Ms Manrara’s back, as she moves between them. It is at this point that Evans makes his disgusting joke at her expense.
Seconds later, her dancer husband Aljaz Skorjanec, who was standing nearby, asks her: ‘Darling, are you OK?’ She replies curtly: ‘Yep.’
Yesterday, Ms Manrara’s spokeswoman said the host had been ‘unaware of this comment by Wynne’ which was audible to our reporter filming with a mobile phone 20 yards away.
That his ‘spit-roast’ comment was made at a media event will infuriate Corporation bosses still struggling to repair Strictly’s tainted image following bullying complaints and junior staff’s claims of a ‘toxic’ behind-the-scenes culture.
