Strictly's Wynne Evans' hidden heartbreak and way he found out about axe

Wynne Evans has opened up on how he found out he had been axed from the Strictly Come Dancing tour - just days after he lost his brother
Wynne Evans has spoken out about his axe from the Strictly Come Dancing tour - and 'how' he found out about his axe after comments towards professional dancer Janette Manrara. During this time, the star says he was a "grieving mess" after losing his older brother Huw.
The opera singer was axed from the live tour earlier this year after he made a crude remark about the dancer. It came after a a video emerged of him saying 'spit-roast' at a Strictly photocall which, it was claimed, was in relation to Janette.
‌
After the video was released of the star making the comment, the 53-year-old released a statement apologising for his words. "My language was inappropriate and unacceptable, for which I sincerely apologise," a statement from Evans read.
‌
Wynne was axed from the tour and suspended from the BBC just two days after the original story ran - on his 53rd birthday (January 27). However, the star claims he learnt through reading the article in the Sun and later discovered his BBC pass had been deactivated with no warning.
A BBC Studios spokesperson said: 'Any statement issued on Wynne Evans' behalf was fully approved by Wynne Evans.'
Evans now tells the Sun that the comment "absolutely wasn't meant sexually - and the fact I used 'boy', all right it's nuanced, but it shows I was talking to Jamie, NOT Janette."
Wynne revealed that at the time, his phone was blowing up with calls from his team, the tour team and Strictly team, in which he said: "Oh god, I'm so sorry." Wynne claims this was taken as a formal apology and released by the press team.
He also claims he was "horrified" when he read the apology within the context of the story as it had been written, saying it "validated" the story.
‌
On January 28, Wynne took to his Instagram to release his own apology, which said: "I've agreed with the BBC that I'll take some time out from my radio show and the Strictly Live tour, as well as my other public commitments, to prioritise my wellbeing.
"I am deeply sorry for the pain my inappropriate actions have caused, and plan to take this time for self-reflection.
‌
"Apologies to those I won't get to see at the remaining performances and I'm grateful to my fellow tour gang for all the amazing support they have given me."
Just two days before the photocall, Wynne tragically lost his brother Huw, and said he was "a grieving mess". On January 8, the star paid tribute to his "gorgeous eldest brother" Huw, as he announced his death.
"I'm so sad to say that my gorgeous eldest brother has passed away. My big brother was my hero and my inspiration," Wynne wrote on Instagram.
‌
"Huw my darling I will miss you so much and am so glad I got to have you with me all my life," the opera singer emotionally concluded.
Wynne has also came under fire during the live shows last year, after it was noticed that he placed his hand on Katya's waist - which she immediately removed.
After, the duo took to social media to claim their exchange was simply an "inside" joke and wasn't to be taken seriously.
Now, Wynne has explained the "inside" joke further, telling the publication that the pair agreed to take part in a bod language experiment to see if people noticed.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Wales Online

33 minutes ago

• Wales Online

Premier League footballer 'signs up' for Strictly Come Dancing 2025 series

Premier League footballer 'signs up' for Strictly Come Dancing 2025 series The 23rd season of the BBC One dance competition is still months away but the rumour mill has been in overdrive He would be a huge signing for the dance show (Image: BBC ) As the 2025 season of Strictly Come Dancing approaches, rumours are swirling about the celebrities set to dazzle on the dance floor, with a Premier League legend being the latest name expected to join the line-up. Ex-Leeds United ace Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is reportedly trading football boots for dancing shoes as he gears up to compete in the beloved BBC competition. ‌ At 53, the Dutch former footballer could be the next sports star to attempt to cha-cha-cha his way to success on Strictly, following in the footsteps of Robbie Savage, Alex Scott, and Tony Adams, who have all vied for the coveted Glitterball Trophy. ‌ Hasselbaink, who took on a coaching role with the England squad in 2023, stepped down last August after Gareth Southgate's departure as manager. With more free time, it's rumoured that Jimmy might be strutting his stuff on the Strictly stage this year. An insider revealed to The Sun: "Jimmy has a huge fanbase from his years playing in the Premier League and is a very likeable character. Show producers are always keen to book a retired footballer as it gets footie fans tuning into the series and becoming unlikely fans of the show. Jimmy has a competitive edge and is going to get his head in the game." Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is the latest star linked to Strictly Come Dancing 2025 (Image: Getty Images ) Article continues below Other celebrities speculated to join the glittering roster include Olympian Sir Mo Farah, Gladiators' Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, also known as Nitro, and former Big Brother housemate Yinrun Huang, all potentially stepping onto the Strictly dance floor in the new season, reports the Mirror. Judges Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke are all confirmed to return for what will be the 23rd series in 2025. However, with scandals marring the show in the past two years, there is concern about potential new controversies. Strictly has faced negative press recently with allegations of professional dancers being physically rough with their celebrity counterparts and celebrities themselves being accused of improper conduct. ‌ Reports suggested earlier this year that BBC executives were grappling with a "terrible, terrible fear" of more scandalous incidents, prompting measures to overhaul the show's image, which might affect casting decisions. In a bid to keep future series scandal-free, the BBC is reportedly vetting individuals carefully for the 2025 line-up. Names such as Blue Peter presenters Joel Mawhinney and Shini Muthukrishnan are being considered alongside Tom Parker Bowles, Queen Camilla's son. Other celebrities rumoured to join the next season include Georgia Toffolo, the winner of I'm a Celebrity, and Nicola Roberts from Girls Aloud. Dani Dyer, who recently wed after her stint on Love Island, and ex-Coronation Street actress Helen Flanagan are also reportedly in the running for a spot on the dance floor. ‌ Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke are expected to return as judges (Image: BBC/Guy Levy ) "There is a terrible, terrible fear among those high up that these awful things are going to keep happening and the show will be brought into disrepute again and again," a well-informed BBC insider revealed to MailOnline. "With that in mind, they are taking no chances. "There will be stringent checks, and asking around, and digging into potential stars' backgrounds to make sure that they're not choosing anyone who might damage the show. For years, there was the whole Strictly "curse" where the contestants and professionals kept having affairs. But that stopped. Article continues below "Changes were made to the partnerships and it worked. There have been other issues in the past couple of years, though. What's been even more embarrassing for the BBC is that Wynne and Jamie have been from their own stable of stars. Going forward, those at the top want a wholesome image to shine through. No more scandal – just joy." This revelation follows an incident involving 2024 contestant Jamie Borthwick, known for his role as Jay Brown in the BBC soap EastEnders, who had to issue a heartfelt apology after footage allegedly surfaced showing him making derogatory remarks about the people of Blackpool. Strictly Come Dancing is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Daily Mirror

43 minutes ago

• Daily Mirror

John McEnroe's home that was nearly too pricey for him blew Sue Barker away

John McEnroe and Sue Barker are great friends, with the three-time Wimbledon champion showing the TV presenter around his plush New York apartment and art gallery Sue Barker was left wowed by John McEnroe's luxurious New York residence, a property he struggled to afford during his tennis days. The duo, who are close pals after years working in tandem on the BBC's Wimbledon coverage before Barker retired from tournament presenting duties in 2022, shared some memorable moments. In 2019, Barker visited McEnroe in his homeland for a BBC documentary celebrating his 60th birthday. She toured his prestigious tennis academy, art gallery and the plush Manhattan apartment where he has lived since the mid-80s. ‌ Despite McEnroe's estimated net worth of £90 million, stretching his finances for the apartment initially proved a challenge. ‌ Recounting the visit in her book, Wimbledon: The players, the place, the magic, Barker said the property boasted "the most stunning views over the city". She said: "Mac stretched himself to buy the property during his early playing days and it is now a prime asset, proving what a savvy businessman he was even back then." Today, the apartment, with its four bedrooms, an office, a gallery and a spacious kitchen, is valued at about £7.5million. Barker was also awestruck by McEnroe's downtown Manhattan gallery. She wrote: "Art is another of his great passions. We had a hilarious moment when I held the bottom of the ladder as John climbed up to remove a couple of paintings from the wall. "The ladder was a bit wobbly, and I felt under extreme pressure. I carefully put the first painting he handed down on the table. The second one, I held in my hands, admiring it as John descended. How much do you think that one is worth, Sue?' ‌ "Not wanting to look foolish as I really had no idea, I guessed $100,000. 'Just over a million,' he said - and I almost dropped it! "Holding something so valuable was a first for me. I couldn't believe Mac would trust me with handling it at all. I decided not to go near anything else in his gallery, much to his amusement." McEnroe, who grew up in Queens near US Open venue Flushing Meadows, feels at home in Manhattan. In the documentary, he said: "I've lived in the same apartment for 35 years. I love being in Manhattan, I grew up in Queens, close to the US Open. But most kids, if not all kids, dream of making it in Manhattan." McEnroe, one of the BBC's top-paid presenters on a pro rata basis, will return to his punditry and commentary roles at Wimbledon this year. However, Nick Kyrgios will reportedly not be joining him after being dropped from the line-up.

The Herald Scotland

an hour ago

• The Herald Scotland

BBC Alba to expand into Gaelic feature film production

A new feature film development fund is being created months after the Scottish Government agreed to put an additional £1.8 million into MG Alba, which operates the Gaelic channel in partnership with the BBC, to 'build on the success' of An t-Eilean (The Island) since the launch of the murder mystery series in January. Read more: MG Alba also wants to emulate the success of Cine4, a groundbreaking Irish language film development scheme, which has produced eight feature films since it was launched in 2017 by broadcaster TG4, Screen Ireland and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. The Herald can reveal that a second series of An t-Eilean, which starred Sorcha Groundsell, Sagar Radia, Iain Macrae and Meredith Brook, is already in development. The four-part drama, which was commissioned by BBC Alba, was snapped up by international distributors All3Media International before filming had even started in Lewis and Harris, and had a budget of more than £1 million per episode. Sorcha Groundsell starred in the Gaelic drama series An t-Eilean, which was launched in January. The show, which followed an investigation into the murder of the wife of a wealthy islander at their historic mansion, was later acquired by BBC Four and was described as the UK's first major Gaelic language drama when it premiered. An t-Eilean, which was described as a 'game-changer' by BBC Alba when it was commissioned, went on to win two major honours at the European broadcasting awards, Prix CIRCOM, in Barcelona in May. Meredith Brook and Sorcha Groundsell starred in the BBC Alba series An t-Eilean. At the time, Screen Scotland hailed its popularity and recognition as "an incredible vote of confidence in the strength of Gaelic language drama.' The collaboration between BBC Alba and BBC Scotland on the new short-form dramas, which is expected to see successful projects go into production this year, was announced last November. Kate Forbes met BBC Alba staff at the BBC's Pacific Quay headquarters in February when she announced additional funding of £1.8m for Gaelic broadcasting. (Image: BBC Alba) The Scottish Government subsequently approved an additional £1.8m for MG Alba, which was announced weeks after the launch of An t-Eilean. At the time, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said the show's success "demonstrates how supporting a thriving Gaelic broadcasting sector can bring international interest to Scotland." She added: "This extra funding will enable Gaelic broadcasters to build on existing high-quality content and attract new audiences." The BBC's recently-published annual plan states that BBC Alba will be working with BBC Film to develop feature film ideas. Margaret Cameron, director of content at MG Alba, told The Herald: "We have had really positive discussions so far with BBC Film and Screen Scotland. Everybody is very keen to make it happen. "Off the back of An t-Eilean, this is the next natural step for BBC Alba. It punched through at a level that was just amazing for us and the BBC really got behind it. "We would be crazy if we weren't already considering how to take the next natural step forward from An t-Eilean. "Films can travel even more than TV, they are economic generators and they are also a sign of confidence." Read more: The BBC Alba feature film initiative, which is expected to be backed by BBC Film and the government agency Screen Scotland, will also be promoted at the Edinburgh TV Festival in August. It has been developed after BBC Alba and BBC Scotland joined forces to launch a new two-year partnership worth £800,000 to make new 'digital first' short-form Gaelic dramas aimed at younger viewers. Ms Cameron said: "We are hugely encouraged by what our Irish cousins are doing with the Cine4 feature film development scheme. "It's all about drawing together different partners these days - no-one can do feature film production on their own these days. Everybody has to work in partnership with someone else. "From an absolute zero start, developing a script, getting a film funded and made, and then released you are talking about at least a three-year cycle. "The first stage when we launch this will be a call-out for feature film development ideas. "We will be looking for ideas that are relatable, but also sellable. The thing that we're really keen on is that Gaelic talent is at the heart of it. "The writer must have Gaelic and we will want the majority of the script to be in Gaelic. "If we are very lucky and we have sufficient funding from our partners then we may find we are able to develop more than one film. It would be fantastic to have more than one horse on the field." Glasgow-based Black Camel Pictures, producers of the marine crime drama Annika and queer romance series Float, secured the BBC Alba commission for An t-Eilean, which was written by Nicholas Osborne and Patsi Mackenzie. Ms Cameron said: 'A second series of An t-Eilean is in development. It's looking very positive and we are very confident that something will come from it. "We would love to have another series of An t-Eilean and we have plans for some other new dramas as well."