Wynne Evans insists he’s ‘not a bad guy’ in tell-all interview after Strictly sex scandals

The opera singer was removed from the Strictly tour after using 'offensive' language.

Wynne Evans insists he’s ‘not a bad guy’ in tell-all interview after Strictly sex scandals
Wynne Evans has given his first interview after his Strictly tour axing (Picture: Dave Hogan/Hogan Media/Shutterstock)

Wynne Evans has spoken out in his first interview after becoming embroiled in a Strictly Come Dancing scandal.

The opera singer’s reputation took a beating earlier this year when he was axed from the Strictly Live Tour due to comments made involving Janette Manrara.

Wynne, 53, whose professional partner was Katya Jones, later retreated from the spotlight, having apologised for his ‘unacceptable’ quip that insinuated a ‘spit roast’ with married tour host Janette.

When he was removed from the bill, having already done several performances, a spokesperson from the BBC said: ‘We have made it very clear to Wynne that we do not tolerate such behaviour on the tour.

‘We were not previously aware of the remark and did not receive any complaints.’

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Wynne, who has faced several other reports of inappropriate comments made off-camera in recent months, has now spoken to The Sun about the fallout.

The opera singer was paired with Katya Jones last series (Picture: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire) He was shocked to find he had been taken off the tour for using ‘offensive’ language (Picture: Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock)

The GoCompare frontman – who was also caught on camera laughing after gifting Strictly co-star Jamie Borthwick a sex toy – told the publication that he is ‘not a bad guy’.

He also states that he is ‘not a misogynist’, explaining that ‘spit-roast boy’ was a nickname given to EastEnders actor Jamie, insisting that the quip was a prank that ‘backfired’.

‘It’s been heartbreaking,’ he said of the aftermath. ‘”Spit-roast boy” was a nickname we all gave Jamie Borthwick because he could contort his legs over his head like a spit-roast chicken.

‘I would be the first to apologise if I had used it in the double meaning of that word.

‘But it absolutely wasn’t meant sexually – and the fact I used “boy,” alright, it’s nuanced, but it shows I was talking to Jamie, NOT Janette.’

Wynne was informed of the ‘offensive’ language he used when footage came to light two weeks later.

He insists that the ‘spit-roast’ gag was aimed at Jamie Borthwick (Picture: Anthony Devlin/Hogan Media/Shutt) Wynne says the cast called the EastEnders actor ‘spit-roast boy’ (Picture: BBC/PA)

He said his natural reaction was to declare he was ‘so sorry’, which he alleges was interpreted as a ‘formal apology’.

‘When I read the apology within the context of the story as it had been written, I was absolutely horrified,’ he added. ‘And I was embarrassed, and I was ashamed of myself. Because the apology always makes it look worse. It validates the story.’

At the time, when announcing his exit from the tour, Wynne 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.

The incident, which occurred during a photo session at Birmingham Arena, was not the first time Wynne raised eyebrows with his comments, as, while he was on Strictly in late 2024, fans noticed an uncomfortable moment in which Katya removed his hand from her waist before refusing to high-five him.

He now claims this was a ‘body language experiment’ proposed by Russian pro Katya, to which he ‘naively agreed’.

Wynne was called ‘creepy’ when Katya was seen removing his hand from her waist (Picture: BBC)