Wynne Evans, the well-known opera singer and star of Strictly Come Dancing, has taken a much-needed getaway to Dubai with his supportive girlfriend, Liz Brookes.
This break comes after a turbulent period involving shocking scandals that have rocked his personal and professional life.
The 53-year-old, alongside co-star Jamie Borthwick, found himself in the middle of controversy surrounding a sex toy scandal, a crude comment made about host Janette Manrara, and the infamous ‘gropegate’ incident.
A Cloud of Scandals and Public Apologies
In the wake of these scandals, Wynne decided to step down from the Strictly tour and take a hiatus from his BBC Radio Wales show.
Despite this, the singer has been reportedly fighting back with a dossier of evidence aimed at clearing his name.
This includes documents to defend him against a vile sexual slur he made regarding Janette Manrara, as well as his involvement in the gropegate incident, where he was filmed placing his hands around Katya Jones’ waist before she pushed him away.
The Controversial Sex Toy Video
One of the most talked-about incidents involved a video shared by Jamie Borthwick, showing him receiving a sex toy from Wynne.
The footage, obtained by The Sun, was filmed backstage at the Strictly tour.
It revealed Jamie jokingly discussing the gift, with Wynne in the background explaining how it had been sent to the Utilita Arena reception in Birmingham.
This video, which some considered crass and inappropriate for a family show like Strictly, was reportedly shared within the Strictly contestant WhatsApp group, causing widespread concern among BBC executives.
A source told The Sun that BBC bosses were shocked by the footage and reminded the pair of the need to maintain professionalism, especially given the show’s family-friendly nature.
A Defiant Wynne Defends Himself
Despite apologizing for the inappropriate remarks, Wynne continues to maintain that the comments made about Janette were taken out of context.
Reports indicate that his team has sent the video to a cyber forensics team, who found an important detail that had been previously overlooked.
Wynne allegedly referred to Jamie as “old spitroast boy” rather than making a crude comment about Janette.
This, his supporters argue, changes the entire context, as it was apparently a joke about Jamie’s physical appearance, not a sexual remark aimed at Janette.
Support from Fellow Cast Members
In the midst of these controversies, Wynne has received messages of support from some of his Strictly colleagues, including Janette Manrara and her husband, Aljaz Skorjanec.
Sources suggest that he has also been backed by his dance partner, Katya Jones, who was at the center of the gropegate incident.
According to reports, the pair had filmed an explanation video immediately after the incident, clarifying that it was meant to be a joke. However, BBC bosses allegedly blocked them from posting it.
Fighting for His Career
With a 30-page dossier compiled by his legal team, Wynne is gearing up for showdown talks about his future.
He is awaiting a final decision on the status of his BBC Radio Wales gig, which he stepped down from two months ago.
While the BBC has only referred to his previous apology for the offensive language used in the incident with Janette, Wynne’s friends have expressed that his reputation has been unfairly tarnished.
In the midst of the controversy, Wynne was also filmed making an inappropriate joke about Janette, which reportedly led to further tensions with her husband, Aljaz.
However, Janette’s spokesperson clarified that she was unaware of the comment until it was brought to her attention.
Moving Forward
As Wynne and Liz enjoy their time away in Dubai, he is reportedly focused on clearing his name and moving forward.
Despite the intense public scrutiny, his friends believe that Wynne has been unfairly targeted, and they remain hopeful that he will be able to rebuild his career once the dust settles.
The outcome of his legal battles and career prospects remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: Wynne Evans is not giving up without a fight.