BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Wynne Evans slams 'running joke' reaction in scathing rant

After being voted off Strictly Come Dancing Wynne Evans has addressed the reaction to the ‘running joke’ saga that exploded during his time on the BBC talent show

Strictly’s Wynne Evans said ‘hindsight is a wonderful thing’ as he slammed the backlash from his most controversial moment on the talent show. Welsh opera singer Wynne Jones became the eighth contestant to leave Strictly Come Dancing following the dance off at the legendary Blackpool Tower Ballroom which saw him come up against Olympian Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe.

He performed an extremely energetic Charleston to Carmen Suite No 1: 5 Les Toreadors by Georges Bizet with pro partner Katya Jones while Montell danced an equally frenetic salsa to Thelma Houston's Don't Leave Me This Way. After the controversy of the previous week, which saw fans of the BB show react furiously to head judge Shirley Ballas having the final say in a split decision vote, this time the judges’ opinions were unanimous. All four saved Montell while Wynne was sent home.

As his fate sank in, the 52 year old broadcaster reflected on his time on the show, telling host Tess Daly: "It's been wonderful, I've got to say. I feel like it's what Strictly is all about. If I can come and do Strictly and last until week nine, then anybody can get out there and dance."

Although he still maintains he enjoyed his experience, he’s also opened up on the difficulties he faced when a now infamous awkward moment went viral. While the stars were being interviewed during a live show, Wynne slid his hand round Katya's waist but she moved it back. Shortly afterwards she shunned his attempt at a high five.

Viewers were quick to point out the odd behaviour on social media and it quickly spiralled with questions being asked over the relationship between the two and if there was tension. At the time the pair apologised but claimed the moment was the result of an ‘in-joke’.

Since leaving the competition, Wynne has opened up more about his Strictly journey and addressed the ‘scandal’. He told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast that it was "misinterpreted". He said: "What I can say was it was a joke that sadly was misinterpreted. 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 went on to say that the coverage of it continued "for days on end was pretty relentless".

At the time there were calls for the pair to explain the ‘in joke’ so that it could be understood but they chose not to. When he was asked if he now thinks this would have helped take the heat off, he replied: "Maybe. Maybe not. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and it was just something that happened and that was it." He expressed his anger over how the saga was reported and said: "I'm still astounded that people are allowed to write any, for want of a better word, lies that they want," he said. "I'm disappointed that I've seen that side of life."

Wynne also spoke about his absence from one of the episodes of spinoff show It Takes Two. Despite Fleur East confirming that Wynne was expected to appear, it seemed that there was a last-minute change and his fellow contestant Chris McCausland featured instead. It was addressed at the time with host Janette Manrara stating: "If you've got any questions like, 'Why are Chris and Dianne on when yesterday we said it was going to be Wynne and Katya?' It's live TV, guys. You've got to roll with it, alright? Just roll with it."

He claimed an article said he "stormed out of the studio" and "was refusing to go on the show". But he told BBC Radio Wales Chris had asked to swap because he wanted to look at a school for his daughter. "It’s just total fabrication of what actually happened," he said. It’s unclear where the story he referred to came from.

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