BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Wynne Evans' devastating health admission - 'I couldn't go on'

Strictly Come Dancing contestant Wynne Evans has revealed how he reached such a low point with his health that he considered suicide because he couldn’t see a way out

Opera singer and Strictly star Wynne Evans’ job as a radio host was to ‘cheer up the nation’ but he was secretly going through a crippling battle with his health and depression.

Wynne Evans is currently taking part in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing competition and will be hoping to impress the judges and viewers alike with his moves. Away from the talent show, Wynne, 52, presents a radio show on BBC Radio Wales but is probably most well known for starring and singing in the GoCompare insurance comparison site adverts.

Although he always seems to be laughing and smiling during his various TV and radio stints, Wynne has suffered greatly with his health. In 2016 the Welsh singer was going through the break up of his marriage, which had caused him huge heartbreak. As a result he hit rock bottom and was experiencing suicidal thoughts.

Last year he revealed all about the "saddest" time in his life when he would put on "a mask" in public and for the listeners of his show. "I was doing a daily radio show where the feel of it is upbeat and keeping people in a good mood and cheering up the nation," he told Wales Online. "The strapline of my show is, 'cheering Wales up by one o'clock,' but I was going through the worst depression, clinical depression. I would think about (suicide), I would try and action it... I couldn't see a way out; I couldn't see a way of ever being happy again."

Wynne realised he needed to get professional help if he was going to be able to put his life back together. He continued: "I was feeling suicidal, and it was terrible. I just thought, I'm either going to do something terrible or I need to go and see a proper psychiatrist."

He did see a psychiatrist, who prescribed tablets for his anxiety and depression, which he said made him feel better straight away. Wynne now believes his difficulties have led him to where he is now - in a much happier place. "I had bad anxiety and I used to get stage fright, and I think it's made me a much better person actually," Wynne said. "I'm much kinder, much more patient, I try and live every day to the fullest and really enjoy myself."

He also has some wise words of encouragement for anyone else who is struggling: "When you put the work in, then you're ready to run with it... So, my message is talk to people, get involved, do stuff, and don't feel ashamed about anything - whether you're feeling low, or fat, or thin, or anything. There's no right or wrong, just don't be embarrassed," he said.

In an interview on This Morning before Strictly started Wynne also revealed how losing weight was a catalyst in him taking up the place in the dancing contest. He said: "One day I thought, ‘Right, this is it’. And one day I started doing a little bit of running - well, walking, actually, at the start. Then I slowly lost weight. So when the call came from Strictly I thought, ‘This is the right spot’. Now I can lose a bit more."

If you or someone you know needs advice with anything mentioned in this article, The Samaritans 24 hour helpline can be reached on 116 123.

Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturday evenings on BBC1.