Wynne Evans has announced he has been dropped by the BBC after a string of Strictly Come Dancing controversies.
The news comes after the opera singer, who was the host of a BBC Radio Wales show, apologised for making an “inappropriate and unacceptable” remark during the Strictly live tour launch in December.
He said in an Instagram post shared on Friday (30 May): “I won’t be returning to my radio show. I’m gutted.”
A spokesperson for the BBC told The Independent: “Wynne Evans is not under contract with the BBC. He is not returning to the mid-morning show on BBC Radio Wales and there are currently no plans to work with him.”
In January 2025, Mail on Sunday reported that Evans was heard making a lewd remark to EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick at a photocall about presenter Janette Manrara.
A spokesman for the Strictly live tour and BBC Studios said: “We have made it very clear to Wynne that we do not tolerate such behaviour on the tour.”
Shortly after, Evans announced a break from his radio show, telling his fans: “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.”
The 52-year-old’s apology arrived months after his time on the 2024 series of Strictly was also mired in controversy. During one episode, he was spotted engaging in a “silly inside joke” with his professional dance partner, Katya Jones.
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Evans and Jones had to apologise for a moment in which the former was shown awkwardly moving his hand from her waist during a live episode.
In another moment, Jones was seen avoiding a high-five offered by her celebrity partner – but after rumours of a behind-the-scenes feud, they told viewers it was part of “a running joke”.
While announcing the BBC had dropped him, Evans thanked his fans for their support, stating on Instagram: “These past few months, your love has been the light in my darkest days. Every message, every word of encouragement, every moment you stood by me has carried me through more than you could ever know.
“And because you’ve given me so much, I need to tell you this. It breaks my heart to say the BBC has decided not to renew my contract. That show wasn’t just work – it was home. It was us.
“We laughed, we cried, we sang like nobody was listening. And somehow, through the airwaves, we became a family.”
He said he will be launching his own online radio show.
The star recently defended himself from claims he was a “misogynist” and criticised his treatment at the hands of the media.
He told The Sun on Sunday: “Your natural reaction is, if you’re told you’ve offended someone, you say, ‘God, I’m so sorry’. And so I went, ‘I’m so sorry.’ And that was taken as a formal apology, so the press team issued a statement. I didn’t see it.
“When I read the apology within the context of the story as it had been written, I was absolutely horrified.
“It’s been a truly awful past few months, having to keep my counsel and let the narrative that I’m some sort of weirdo run.”
