Strictly Come Dancing star Wynne Evans has expressed feeling “heartbroken” over the reactions to a hand incident involving his partner Katya Jones during Saturday’s show (12 October). The 52-year-old opera singer, renowned for his appearances in Go Compare insurance adverts, received his highest scores of the series, but the attention quickly shifted to videos circulating online showcasing his interactions with Jones.
Immediately after the episode aired, a video emerged showing Evans awkwardly placing his hand on his partner’s stomach, which she promptly moved to her hip instead. Subsequently, another clip surfaced where Jones appeared to ignore Evans when he tried to give her a high five while standing behind show co-host Claudia Winkleman. In response to the growing controversy, the pair later clarified that these interactions were meant as a “joke”.
Speaking on BBC Radio Wales, Evans expressed his dismay at the negative commentary surrounding the incident. He emphasised the closeness of his friendship with Jones, stating, “Katya and I are really, really close and we’re really good friends, and on Saturday night we made a stupid joke.” Acknowledging the misinterpretation of the incident, Evans stressed that Jones had addressed the situation on her social media, confirming that it was all in good humour and that she was not offended.
Despite the backlash on social media, Evans continued to praise his strong bond with Jones, remarking, “We’ve got a brilliant friendship, an absolutely tight friendship, and I’m sorry if anybody was offended by it, but it was a joke and yeah, that’s all there is, there is no real story, really.” While not explicitly stating which aspect he was apologising for, Evans admitted to having “misjudged it” before commencing with his own radio show. He expressed his desire for this incident not to overshadow the enjoyment he is experiencing on the show.
As the debate around the hand incident and missed high five continues, both Evans and Jones have sought to clarify their intentions and maintain that the situation was blown out of proportion. With fans closely observing their every move, the duo remains focused on delivering stellar performances on the dance floor and fostering their strong friendship throughout the competition.