Wynne Evans confirms he is taking ‘time out’ of Strictly Live Tour amid crude joke

Wynne Evans has confirmed he is taking time away from the Strictly Live tour (Picture: Steve Welsh)

Wynne Evans has confirmed he is taking time out from the Strictly Come Dancing live tour after making a sexual remark aimed at Janette Manrara.

The Welsh opera singer, 53, recently joked about having a threesome – or ‘spit roast’ – with the Strictly Live presenter and professional dancer, 41, during a photo call with the cast of the show.

Evans was captured making the obscene comment at Birmingham Arena, with EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick apparently wincing at the comment.

It has now been confirmed by Evans on his Instagram story that he will be taking time away from the show.

‘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 action 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.’

Evans took to social media to apologise (Picture: Wynne Evans/ Instagram)

It comes after he made a sexual joke aimed at Janette Manrara (Picture: Eamonn M. McCormack/ Getty Images)

It was reported earlier today that the BBC planned to release a statement about Wynne no longer being in the series.

‘He’s had repeated warnings about his behaviour and told to reign it in. He’s not been taking it in, in this day and age the BBC have to be seen taking action and safeguard everyone,’ a source told The Sun.

‘He’s had a tough time with the death of his brother and people should give him some slack, he is going to take this time off to do some self reflection.

‘He has a lot of support from a lot of the backstage dancers. It’s been a really sad ending to what has been a really fun tour.’

The publication also reported despite Evans apologising, it ‘hasn’t saved his place on the tour and bosses have now removed him, despite initially giving him a final warning.’

In a statement to Metro, Evans said: ‘My language was inappropriate and unacceptable, for which I sincerely apologise.’

A spokesman for BBC Studios and the Strictly Live Tour producers also said: ‘We were not previously aware of the remark and did not receive any complaints.

Evans competed on the last season of the show with professional dancer Katya Jones (Picture: John Rainford/ Backgrid)

‘We have made it very clear to Wynne that we do not tolerate such behaviour on the tour.’

Last week Evans was also forced to pull out from two of the live shows after suffering an ankle injury.

Sharing a photo of his bruised foot on Instagram he wrote: ‘Turned my ankle last night in the show but I’m being a brave soldier.’

The next day he shared another photo and said while his foot was ‘sore’, he was feeling positive as the swelling was ‘subsiding’.

Last year Evans also faced controversy after his dance partner on Strictly – Katya Jones – appeared to forcibly remove his hand from her waist and then rejected his offer of a high five during a live episode.

However, both later passed the matter off as a ‘bad joke’.

Metro has contacted the BBC, representatives for Wynne Evans and the Strictly Come Dancing live tour for comment.

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