The Wynne Evans scandal

 Alright, grab your popcorn because we’ve got a doozy of a drama going down in the world of British entertainment, and it involves Wynne Evans—a Welsh tenor, Strictly Come Dancing tour cast member, and, apparently, the latest target of social media’s relentless pile-on. If you’re not familiar with the UK’s Strictly Come Dancing (which, to give you some context, is our version of Dancing with the Stars), it’s a popular TV competition where celebrities are paired with professional dancers to show off their ballroom skills. It’s full of glitz, glamour, and, naturally, drama. The show runs for a few months, but after the TV series wraps, there’s a big live Strictly Come Dancing tour—where the stars hit the road and perform in arenas across the UK. Think of it as Dancing with the Stars on steroids—minus the literal steroids, obviously.

So, if you’ve somehow missed the drama surrounding Wynne Evans, don’t worry—I’m here to fill you in. Let’s start from the beginning.

Wynne, 53, is a Welsh tenor who got involved in Strictly Come Dancing in 2024 as one of the celebrity contestants, where he was paired with professional dancer Katya Jones. Fast forward to a few weeks ago, and Wynne’s on the tour

And here’s where the drama begins: During a press photoshoot for the tour, Wynne made a cheeky joke to host Janette Manrara, which—fair enough—was in poor taste. Wynne made a joke about “spitroasting” Janette Manrara at the start of the tour, and it’s caused an absolute uproar. Was it an inappropriate joke? Yeah, absolutely. Should he have said it? Probably not. But hold up a second—why is it only coming to light now? The comment was made at the start of the tour, and yet suddenly, now, it's a big issue? Why wasn’t it dealt with then? Is this really about the joke, or is it just another reason for some people to have a go at him? The comment was made weeks ago, and we’re just hearing about it now? Why? Was it genuinely such a big deal at the time, or is this just another example of the media picking up on something and running with it for no reason? Why has this comment come to light only three weeks after it was made? If it was such an issue back then, wouldn’t the powers that be have acted immediately? Instead, it’s only after the press get their hands on it that Wynne’s been removed from the tour. Seems a bit fishy, right?

 Let’s be real here: Strictly is hardly a convent. If you've ever watched the show, you'd know it thrives on cheeky innuendos. Half the time, they're making ‘stiff hold’ jokes or sniggering about how much ‘thrusting action’ a contestant needs. But suddenly, Wynne Evans makes a dodgy comment, and it’s pearl-clutching time. The pros, celebs, and crew behind the scenes probably all have a filthy sense of humour—they’re human, not angels. It’s a bunch of adults working long hours, getting sweaty, and trying to keep the mood light.  But Wynne? He’s the one who got caught. It’s not that he’s the only one making dodgy jokes; it’s just that his ended up in the public domain.

And here's the part that really stinks—this was a private joke between him and his castmates. Not something blurted out on live TV, not something directed at the audience—just a bit of banter within the group. And yet, suddenly, weeks later, it’s headline news. Why? If it was so deeply offensive, why is it only coming out now? Who sat on this information, waiting for the right moment to unleash it? Because let’s be real—if you hear something inexcusable, you call it out then and there, you don’t wait until it’s convenient to start sharpening the knives. If Janette herself had a problem with it, fair enough—but as far as we know, she didn’t. So why is it suddenly a thing weeks later? If it was so horrendous, why didn’t anyone raise it at the time?

Do I think Wynne’s a bad guy? Not at all. Do I think he’s got a knack for putting his foot in it? Oh, absolutely. And for that, I can’t help but feel a bit sorry for him.

And now we’ve got Wynne doing the usual public apology routine: “I’m sorry… I’ll reflect… I’ll learn…” The poor guy’s practically begging for forgiveness when all he really did was tell an off-colour joke and accidentally touch someone’s waist. In a sane world, these would be minor blips, not career-ending catastrophes.

Look, I’m not saying Wynne’s perfect. He’s clearly got an unfiltered sense of humour that can land him in hot water. But being a bit un-PC doesn’t make someone a monster. It makes them human. Wynne’s not out here being malicious or harmful—he’s just a bloke who sometimes gets it wrong.

Wynne is the oldest male on the Strictly tour cast. And let’s not pretend that doesn’t play a role here. He’s the easiest one to paint as ‘out of touch’ or ‘problematic’ because, in a media landscape obsessed with youth and social justice buzzwords, older men are often seen as relics of a past that needs to be ‘corrected.’ Never mind the fact that all the women on tour seem perfectly comfortable around him. Never mind the fact that there’s probably plenty of un-PC humour behind the scenes that we’ll never hear about because the younger cast members aren’t being scrutinised in the same way. Wynne’s an easy scapegoat, so he’s being thrown under the bus.

I’ve seen the comments. I’ve seen people calling him all sorts—“creep,” “predator,” “perv,” and worst of all, sex pest. That’s not just an insult; that’s a very serious accusation. That’s the kind of label that can destroy a person’s reputation, career, and life. And for what? Because he made a cheeky joke? Wynne Evans is not a sex pest. The Strictly tour cast clearly adored him. They spent weeks with him, day in, day out, and they chose to spend time with him off the clock too. If he was some lecherous old man making them uncomfortable, do you really think they’d be doing that? Would Tasha be cuddled up to him like a daughter with her dad? Would the others be posting videos laughing and joking with him? Of course not.But the internet—specifically the self-appointed moral police—has decided that their interpretation of events matters more than the actual people involved. The tour cast were clearly fond of him, but no, apparently they’re all just too polite to say they hated him. It’s ridiculous. This isn’t about justice or accountability—it’s about outrage for the sake of it. It’s about tearing a man down because he’s an easy target. He’s older, he’s got a laddish sense of humour, and in 2024, that’s all it takes for people to start throwing around words as serious as sex pest.

And let’s be clear—there are actual sex pests out there. Actual predators who abuse their power and make people feel genuinely unsafe. But calling Wynne Evans one? That’s not just wrong—it’s insulting to real victims. If you throw around terms like that over something as trivial as a misplaced joke or misplaced hand, you dilute the meaning of real abuse.

So no, Wynne Evans is not a sex pest. He’s a good bloke with an unfiltered sense of humour who’s been unfairly crucified by an outrage-hungry internet. And if you’re one of the people throwing that accusation around, maybe take a step back and ask yourself if you actually know what a sex pest is—because it sure as hell isn’t Wynne Evans.

Look, was it the most appropriate joke? No. Was it a bit laddish, a bit crude? Sure. But was it some heinous act of depravity that warrants the internet branding him a sexual predator? Absolutely not. It was banter—the kind of thing that probably happens all the time behind the scenes in Strictly. Wynne’s just the only one getting caught.

And let’s not pretend the Strictly lot are sitting around sipping tea and discussing poetry backstage. They’re dancers. They spend their lives being physically close to one another. You really think they don’t have a filthy sense of humour? Please. The only difference here is that Wynne is older, un-PC, and, crucially, an easy target.

But of course, social media needed a villain, so they’ve decided Wynne must be some sleazy, lecherous creep. Never mind the fact that the actual people on the tour clearly adored him. Never mind the fact that none of the women in the cast have suggested he made them uncomfortable. No, random Twitter warriors have decided he must be a sex pest, so that’s that.

Do people even realise how serious that accusation is? A sex pest isn’t just someone who makes the odd crude joke—it's someone who makes people feel genuinely unsafe. There’s a world of difference between the two. By throwing that term around so carelessly, people are not only ruining a man’s reputation, but they’re also trivialising what actual predators do.

At the end of the day, this whole thing reeks of manufactured outrage. It’s not about the joke—it’s about people jumping on a bandwagon, desperate to play moral referee over a bloke who, by all accounts, is a kind and well-liked man with a bit of a cheeky sense of humour.

So, to those screeching ‘sex pest’ over an offhand joke—take a deep breath, touch some grass, and save your outrage for something that actually deserves it.

Do you know how insane that is? A man who, by all accounts, was adored by his tour castmates—especially the women, who clearly felt safe around him—is now being treated like some sort of lurking pervert because he made one un-PC joke in private? I mean, where do we draw the line? Are we now going to police every single Strictly pro and celebrity for the things they joke about behind closed doors? Because I guarantee you, Wynne’s not the only one who’s made a dodgy joke. He’s just the one getting caught.

This isn’t about protecting women. This isn’t about holding people accountable. This is about performative outrage, plain and simple. It’s about people trawling for things to be offended by, turning private conversations into public scandals, and pretending an unfiltered sense of humour is the same as being a predator.Seriously, why does he have to be punished for something that wasn’t even an issue until the media decided to turn it into one? Janette hasn’t condemned him. The tour cast haven’t distanced themselves from him. In fact, they adored him. The only people making this a problem are the ones who weren’t even there. Janette’s not kicking off. No one from the tour cast is speaking out against Wynne. In fact, all signs point to them getting along brilliantly. So why, weeks after the fact, is Wynne being dragged for something no one involved even cared about? It’s absurd. And frankly, it’s just another example of the media blowing things out of proportion for the sake of clicks.

Let’s talk about Wynne Evans’ statement—the one he shouldn’t even have had to make if we all had a shred of common sense.

In it, Wynne apologised for hiscomments and admitted they were inappropriate, but you can tell he was trying to smooth things over without adding fuel to the fire. He acknowledged the backlash and showed genuine remorse, even though, let’s be real, the people involved didn’t seem bothered in the slightest.

And you know what? That says a lot about the man himself. He’s taken responsibility for a joke that wasn’t meant for public consumption, even though it’s clear this has been blown massively out of proportion. The statement was mature, measured, and probably written with a heavy heart because it must be exhausting to have to defend your character over something so trivial.

But the fact that he had to make this statement at all speaks volumes about where we are as a society. A private joke—albeit a bit crude—between colleagues on a tour known for its camaraderie has somehow turned into Wynne being forced to publicly apologise. The man’s clearly not a bad guy. He just made a joke that wasn’t exactly PG, and instead of letting it stay where it belonged—in private—the media decided to drag it into the public eye and crucify him for it.

The worst part? The statement probably won’t even satisfy the outrage brigade. Apologies rarely do anymore because people don’t want to forgive—they want to cancel. But for anyone with an ounce of perspective, Wynne’s statement shows exactly who he is: a good man with a cheeky sense of humour, owning up to something that, in all honesty, shouldn’t have become a scandal in the first place.

Look, I’ve no doubt that if you put any group of people together for long enough—especially in the pressure cooker that is a Strictly tour—you’re going to get some close-to-the-bone jokes flying around. It’s what happens when you spend hours on end with people, day after day. You start cracking all sorts of jokes, some of which are a little cringey, a little inappropriate. But that’s just part of human nature, right?

Wynne just happened to get caught. He was the one who made a joke that, for whatever reason, got pulled into the spotlight. But let’s not kid ourselves into thinking he’s the only one making cheeky, un-PC comments backstage. I bet if we had a behind-the-scenes cam, we’d hear a whole lot more colourful jokes that would make this one look tame in comparison.

But, here’s the thing—just because it was a bit OTT doesn’t mean it deserves a public execution. He’s not some villain, and this definitely doesn’t warrant a career-ending scandal. He’s just a guy messing around with his mates. So, why is he the one left holding the bag while everyone else stays quiet?

I’ll be honest, I’m starting to worry about Wynne’s wellbeing. This whole situation is so much more than a joke gone wrong—it’s a personal mess. The man hasn’t just been dragged for a comment he made; he’s been removed from a tour, something that could’ve been a much-needed distraction from his grief.

For context, Wynne hasn’t long lost his brother. Grief is a killer—it seeps into every part of your life, and I can only imagine how the tour might’ve been one of the few things helping him focus, keeping his mind occupied during an incredibly tough time. And now? Now, he’s having to deal with the fallout of something that wasn’t even a big deal until the media decided it was. How’s that for adding stress to an already emotionally exhausting period of his life?

I can’t help but feel for him. He didn’t just lose his brother—he’s now potentially losing his livelihood, his reputation, and his peace of mind over a joke. The man didn’t deserve this pile-on, especially when he’s still dealing with such heavy personal loss. And frankly, I’m worried that this situation is going to take a much bigger toll on his mental health than anyone seems to realise.

It’s easy to forget the human behind the headlines. But Wynne is a man just trying to keep his head above water, and now he’s been subjected to unnecessary scrutiny while trying to cope with personal tragedy. This isn’t just about a joke anymore—it’s about the real impact this is having on a person.

Here’s a thought—if Wynne’s comment was such a massive issue, why is it only now that the higher-ups are pulling him from the tour? Why didn’t they step in the moment the comment was made, if it was so offensive?

It’s a bit rich, isn’t it? The bosses knew what was going on—this wasn’t some hidden incident that they only just found out about. If they thought it was truly serious, they should’ve nipped it in the bud right away. But instead, they waited. And waited. And now, three weeks later, they’re pulling him from the tour as if this joke was the thing that shattered the fabric of Strictly’s pristine image.

It doesn’t add up. If this was a career-ending comment, why the delay? Why let it fester until it’s reached this point? The fact that it took so long for action to be taken suggests that maybe—just maybe—the bosses didn’t think it was that big a deal either. They probably saw it for what it was: a stupid, offhand remark, made in the moment, between friends, that really wasn’t worth turning into a full-blown scandal.

But now that it’s been blown up, they’ve had to act for the sake of appearances. That’s the reality. It’s not about protecting the tour or the cast—it’s about covering their backs and managing public relations. If they had any real concern over the comment, they would’ve taken action straight away. But instead, they’ve let this drag on until it’s a public mess that they’ve now been forced to deal with.

Janette is 41. She’s from an era where people didn’t get offended at every little thing. So, let’s get one thing straight: I highly doubt Janette was genuinely offended by Wynne’s comment. I’m sure if she was, she would’ve said something at the time, wouldn’t she? Instead, the people involved—including Janette—didn’t seem to make an issue out of it. She could’ve easily put her foot down if it was crossing a line. But nothing.

And then, look at Pete Wicks. The man was practically slinging innuendo left, right, and centre when he was on It Takes Two, and Janette was the one presenting the show. Did she seem rattled by it? Did she look uncomfortable? Not in the slightest. So why is it that Pete gets away with the same sort of cheeky banter, while Wynne gets dragged through the mud for it?

It’s almost like there’s a double standard at play here. Pete gets a pass—he’s ‘charismatic’ or ‘playful,’ or whatever excuse people are using for him. But when it’s Wynne, suddenly it’s a scandal. Why the difference? Is it because Pete is this media darling, while Wynne's just the “older guy” on tour, easier to target and tear down?

Could it be privilege? A bit of that familiar old “who you know” dynamic creeping in? It’s starting to feel like that’s exactly what’s going on. Pete gets to crack all the jokes he wants, but Wynne—who has no such built-in privilege—has to face the full force of the media storm. It's like some people get to live in this little bubble where their cheeky comments are seen as funny and harmless, while others face the public firing squad.

Could it be that Pete Wicks gets a pass because he’s younger and, let’s be real, more conventionally attractive, while Wynne gets hammered because he’s an older guy who doesn’t fit those stereotypical "heartthrob" expectations? I mean, I’m not trying to say that looks should be the deciding factor in how we judge people’s behaviour, but come on—it’s a real thing.

People seem to have this weird tendency to be more forgiving when someone is considered more attractive or youthful. It’s like they think, "Oh, it’s just Pete being cheeky!" because he’s this trendy, media-friendly, good-looking guy. But when it’s Wynne—an older man, who, let’s face it, isn’t the stereotypical "sex symbol"—suddenly it’s a different story.

Ageism and appearance bias have a nasty way of creeping into how we perceive people, don’t they? We tend to overlook behaviour from certain people based on how society’s conditioned us to see them. Pete's "playful" comments are brushed off, but Wynne’s are branded as inappropriate. It's frustrating, especially when you realise that, if the roles were reversed, we’d probably be treating Pete’s comments with far more scrutiny.

It’s not about the joke, it’s about who’s making it, right? And that’s where it gets murky. Would the reaction be the same if Wynne had been 20 years younger, looking like a teen idol? Probably not. But because he’s an older man who doesn’t fit the usual "charming" mould, he’s treated differently. It’s almost as if society’s still stuck on the idea that older men have to be serious and respectable, while younger, attractive ones get to have all the fun.

So yeah, I’d say looks and age are definitely playing into this double standard, whether people want to admit it or not.

And let’s not forget that Katya has actually stuck up for Wynne in all of this, which says a lot, doesn’t it? Here we have someone who’s been on the receiving end of some pretty intense scrutiny herself, especially when it comes to public perceptions of her relationships and personal life. Katya knows what it’s like to be misjudged and unfairly criticised. So, it’s pretty telling that she’s chosen to back him up in this situation.

She’s worked with Wynne on the tour and, if you ask me, her support speaks volumes. She hasn’t gone along with the media narrative or joined in with the public pile-on. Instead, she’s been a genuine ally, defending him against the unfounded attacks and clearly showing that there was no ill intent behind his actions.

Let’s be clear here—Katya, as someone who works in this environment and has been a part of Strictly for a long time, isn’t someone who’d throw her support behind someone she didn’t think deserved it. If there had been any genuine concern about how Wynne was behaving, she wouldn’t have stuck her neck out for him. But she has. And that should mean something. It’s not like he was being a predatory or inappropriate figure on the tour. He wasn’t making people feel uncomfortable—Katya, along with the rest of the cast, had no issue with him.

Katya’s stance is a refreshing reminder that sometimes, the media likes to sensationalise things, creating drama where there’s none. Her taking the time to defend Wynne shows that, while the public loves a scandal, the people who actually know the man see things very differently. That’s the perspective we should be listening to, not the snap judgments from people who weren’t there.

Here we go again with the social media sleuths trying to spin every little thing into some sort of conspiracy. Now they’re saying Katya’s support for Wynne must be “damage control” because they were partners on Strictly and are touring together. But really—why would it be a cover-up? That doesn’t make any sense.

Let’s break this down. First of all, Katya’s not some puppet being forced to post anything. She’s a grown woman with her own opinions, and if she wanted to support Wynne, she would do it because she wants to, not because someone’s telling her she has to. They clearly get along, and it’s obvious that they have a good rapport. If you look at their interactions on tour, they seem like they’ve built a genuine friendship, which is exactly why Katya’s speaking out for him now.

And let’s not forget that Katya is no stranger to public criticism herself. If there was any damage control happening here, wouldn’t it be more likely to be coming from her? She’s been through the ringer in the media before, but she’s still standing by Wynne. That should be enough to show that her support isn’t about covering up anything, but rather about sticking up for a mate who’s been unfairly treated.

Honestly, this whole idea that she’s “covering up” for him just doesn’t hold water. If anything, Katya’s got more than enough reason to want to distance herself from any sort of controversy after everything she’s been through. But instead, she’s backing Wynne, because she knows the truth: he’s not some villain, just a guy who’s been dragged through the mud over a stupid, off-the-cuff joke.

So no, it’s not a cover-up. It’s just Katya being a decent person, showing support for someone she clearly likes and respects.

Now, adding fuel to the fire, some social media fans have been accusing Wynne of “playing the mental health card” after he mentioned in his statement that he was taking some time out to focus on his well-being. Seriously? The man’s been under immense pressure. He’s lost his brother not too long ago, and now, after all the media nonsense, he’s got to take time for his mental health. But instead of people supporting him, some have decided to attack him for being “weak” or “just playing the mental health card”. It’s shameful. Why are we shaming someone for doing what’s best for their own well-being?

Wynne’s decision to take time for himself shouldn’t be met with such ridicule. Mental health is real, and people are allowed to take a step back when they’re overwhelmed. It’s frustrating that some people can’t just let the guy breathe without accusing him of faking it. The pressure he’s under is real, and maybe we should all take a moment to consider that before jumping to conclusions. Now, here’s something that’s been bugging me even more: these social media fans are accusing Wynne of “playing the mental health card” after he said he needed some time out to focus on his well-being. Really? Just like that? They’re dismissing his vulnerability as a tactic to escape consequences? People are so quick to assume that any admission of mental health struggles is a ploy. So much for being compassionate, huh? When it’s a guy admitting that he’s struggling mentally, they’re straight to the “he’s faking it” zone. But when a woman is in a vulnerable state, suddenly it’s a whole different story. Where’s the outrage about the gender double standard here? And let’s talk about the same people who were waving around that “Be Kind” hashtag for Caroline Flack’s mental health. Why’s it that when it’s a woman, they’re all “let’s show sympathy and understanding,” but when it’s Wynne—a guy admitting that he needs help—they’re all “get over it, mate, you’re just trying to avoid the heat”?

Look, I’m not trying to drag Caroline Flack’s name through the mud here, but you can’t ignore the obvious hypocrisy. She was in a vulnerable mental state, facing serious accusations herself, but she still got the benefit of the doubt from her supporters. Why is Wynne treated any differently? What makes his mental health less of a concern than hers, especially when you think about it logically? Caroline’s scandal involved domestic violence allegations, whereas Wynne’s only “crime” is making a dodgy joke about a co-worker. So, let’s get real here: if we can give Caroline that much grace, why not Wynne? Why the double standard? The media and some of the “fans” online have decided to paint Wynne as some kind of villain, but they’re all ignoring the fact that the people who actually worked with him on tour—people like Janette and Katya—clearly didn’t think he was a problem. They got along fine. Katya even defended him publicly. So, where’s the logic in all this outrage? The only real issue here is people trying to make an issue out of something that’s really not that big of a deal.

Wynne made a comment he shouldn’t have—fine, but let’s not pretend like we’re all saints, eh? We all say things we regret, especially when we’re joking around with friends. Does that mean we should be vilified forever? Does that mean we should be punished for making a mistake in a private setting with people who didn’t even care? I think not.

Wynne doesn’t deserve this pile-on. He deserves some compassion, some understanding, and a little bit of space to sort his own head out. People are too quick to judge, too eager to cancel, and not nearly understanding enough about the pressures that come with being constantly in the public eye. So, how about we just cut him some slack and let him be human for once?

At the end of the day, Wynne is a man who’s clearly been going through a rough time. He’s admitted to needing professional help. Can we not extend the same grace to him that we would for anyone else struggling, regardless of their gender? All we’re doing by attacking him is reinforcing a toxic culture where men are expected to “man up” and hide their feelings, while women are given a free pass when they need help.

It’s time to stop treating mental health like a weapon to be used against someone’s character. Let’s focus on supporting people, not tearing them down.

Wynne Evans deserves better than this.

At the end of the day, Wynne Evans is a good guy. He’s not perfect—who is? But the way the media’s making him out to be some villain over a silly comment is just ridiculous. I feel bad for him, honestly. He’s been through enough already, and all he needs right now is a bit of understanding and support—not to be painted as some sort of monster for making one bad joke. The whole situation reeks of hypocrisy and double standards.

So here’s my message to the media and those keyboard warriors on social media: Leave Wynne alone. He made a mistake, sure. But he’s not a “sex pest” or a danger to anyone. Let the guy live. Everyone makes mistakes, and in this case, it’s time to move on. If you really want to focus on someone’s behaviour, how about looking at the way people are trying to tear him down for a joke that, at the end of the day, didn’t even harm anyone?

Wynne deserves better than this.

It’s all very telling, isn’t it?|