Wynne Evans Criticizes Media ‘Lies’ Following Strictly Come Dancing Departure

Opera singer Wynne Evans has stated his “disappointment” regarding what he alleges were “lies” disseminated about him in the media during his participation in Strictly Come Dancing. The BBC Radio Wales presenter became the eighth contestant to exit the competition after his Charleston routine did not sufficiently impress the judges during a dance-off held at Blackpool Tower Ballroom on Sunday. The 52-year-old Welshman, known for his appearances in insurance advertisements, had previously been involved in a dispute with his dance partner Katya Jones earlier in the series, stemming from what they referred to as a “running joke” that had unintended consequences. “I’m still astounded that people are allowed to write any, for want of a better word, lies that they want,” he remarked. He conveyed his “disappointment that I’ve seen that side of life,” in an interview with BBC Radio Wales Breakfast. Evans further commented, “The Strictly family are perfect in every way,” contrasting this by stating, “The press are a different kettle of fish.” Despite these criticisms, he characterized his overall Strictly experience as “brilliant.” During an interview with BBC Wales on Monday, Evans addressed media reports concerning his decision to switch an appearance on the spin-off program It Takes Two with fellow contestant Chris McCausland. He mentioned an article that purportedly claimed he “stormed out of the studio” and “was refusing to go on the show.” However, Evans clarified that McCausland had requested the swap to visit a school for his daughter. BBC Wales has reported its inability to locate the specific article in question. “It’s just total fabrication of what actually happened,” Evans asserted. Evans, who has openly discussed his struggles with mental health, noted that three-time champion Jones provided significant guidance on navigating the “goldfish bowl” of public life. He added, “I think I’m a much stronger person coming out of it.” Evans also spoke about the controversy surrounding a “running joke” between himself and Jones, for which the pair later apologized after it was poorly received. Viewers observed what appeared to be awkward instances, including Jones seemingly declining a high-five and subsequently moving Evans’s hand from her waist. Following the show, the duo released a social media video together, explaining the high-five moment as a “running joke” between them. Jones later dismissed as “complete nonsense” the notion that the incident where she moved Evans’s hand away “made me feel uncomfortable or offended me in any way.” The BBC declined to provide a comment, but a Strictly source informed BBC News that “the welfare team have checked in on the pair and there are no further actions planned.” Recently, celebrities have voiced concerns about their treatment, leading the show to implement enhanced welfare measures, such as providing chaperones during rehearsals. Evans stated: “What I can say was it was a joke that sadly was misinterpreted.” He continued, “And I think just as we have to believe people when something really has gone wrong and we have to believe people when they say it was a joke.” He further noted that the media coverage of the incident “for days on end was pretty relentless.” When questioned if explaining the joke earlier might have alleviated some pressure, he responded: “Maybe. Maybe not. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and it was just something that happened and that was it.” Notwithstanding these issues, Evans expressed his affection for his time on the program, emphasizing the importance of preserving the show for future generations. He remarked, “I hope Strictly’s still there when I’ve got grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and they can watch their favour people on the television.” The seven remaining couples are scheduled to perform on the dancefloor next week, with the final competition set for 14 December. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.