Wynne Evans has launched a spectacular attack on BBC Strictly Come Dancing, claiming “his voice was taken away”, and that the show is “fundamentally flawed in its duty of care” after he was let go for inappropriate language.
The 53-year-old, best known for his caricature in the Go.Compare TV adverts, took part in the 20th anniversary series of the popular dance show alongside professional dance partner Katya Jones in 2024.
In May this year, Evans was dismissed by the BBC and announced he would no longer host a slot on BBC Radio Wales after using “inappropriate language” during the launch of the Strictly tour.
His apology followed a report published by The Mail on Sunday earlier this year that he had made an “inappropriate and unacceptable” sexual joke to Janette Manrara, one of the professional dancers on the show.
Six months later, the opera singer has now taken to social media to pen a scathing attack on the corporation for his treatment during and after his time on the show.
With a photo of the Strictly cast, he wrote the words “what it’s like seeing pictures of strictly” in sharp lettering across the top of the image uploaded to his Instagram yesterday.
“What it Feels Like to See Pictures of Strictly?” he also penned in the caption.
“I’ll be the first to admit I’ve made mistakes. Not quite the way the Daily Mail would have you believe, but mistakes all the same.
“The hardest part hasn’t been owning up to them or what people might think of me that’s another story— it’s been watching the BBC engage in a series, of dare I say it, lies and cover‑ups in order to absolve themselves of any wrongdoing.”
He then drags the BBC Director General, Tim Davie, and the rest of the corporation, accusing them of “protecting themselves”.
“One feeling has been constant: the only thing they truly care about is protecting themselves and their jobs and Ratings – people come second.”
The anguished star then spoke about his experience inside the rehearsal room and how he was told he couldn’t trust anyone.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Council gives migrants free gym sessions while residents forced to pay £52 a monthIron Maiden’s original singer dies aged 69, as tributes from bandmembers flood inEXPOSED: Keir Starmer poised to slam Brexit into reverse and reimpose EU rule on vital UK industry
“When I first stepped into the rehearsal room at Strictly, I thought it would be a magical experience. And at the start, it was. But the very first thing I was told was: ‘Don’t trust anyone in this room — not even me.’ That hit me hard.”
Evans admitted he wears his heart on his sleeve, and whilst he may “sometimes sail close to the line”, he insisted there was never “malice” in anything he did.
“What I wasn’t prepared for was the way people will protect their personal and BBC brands, at any cost.”, Evans said, before accusing the BBC of fabricating events and incidents.
“In the aftermath, I found myself dealing with an HR department that twisted facts, invented files and dates, and created a version of events that simply wasn’t true.
“Statements were issued in my name that I hadn’t even seen, let alone agreed to.
“My voice was taken away.”
He added that the saga drove him to seek professional help: “Tim Davie publicly promised that the BBC would safeguard people who took part in Strictly.
“I thought about that promise while sitting in a psychiatrist’s office near the BBC, staring out of the window at the BBC building, fighting to save my own life.
“That’s how close I came to the edge.”
He closes the lengthy statement by insisting he’s “not a victim” and will own his mistakes, however presses that the BBC is “broken”.
“Strictly is now fundamentally flawed in its duty of care. It’s allowed to continue because of ratings, while people’s wellbeing is left in tatters,” he said.
The former contestant then made the accusation that institutions like the BBC “only in self‑preservation”, over the mental health and well-being of their contestants.
“I’ve always believed in honesty, fairness and kindness. What I’ve learned is that institutions like the BBC or the Post Office believe only in self‑preservation. And until that changes, others will suffer and perhaps they won’t come through the other side.
GB News has contacted the BBC for comment.
In 2024, Amanda Abbington accused former Strictly dancer Giovanni Pernice of bullying and harassment, leading the BBC to conduct a review.
The dancer quit after “numerous serious complaints” were made against him, however, only some of the complaints, not all, were upheld.
The BBC then implemented a range of new measures to protect the contestant’s welfare, including having a chaperone present “at all times” during training room rehearsals.
