Strictly Come Dancing star Wynne Evans was ‘hauled over the coals’ and issued a final warning by bosses after he was caught making a vile sexual jibe about one of the show’s female hosts.
The BBC faces calls to take further action against the opera singer-turned-presenter, who was welcomed back on the Strictly tour yesterday and will front a new BBC1 travel series tonight.
Evans was recorded crudely suggesting a three-way sex session with It Takes Two presenter and professional dancer Janette Manrara, using the demeaning term ‘spit roast’ during a photocall to launch the Strictly live tour.
The video also showed Manrara’s husband and Strictly professional dancer, Aljaz Skorjanec, at the shoot.
After The Mail on Sunday revealed the footage, Evans pulled out of Saturday night’s tour date in Glasgow, citing an ankle injury, and was summoned before Strictly tour bosses.
An insider said: ‘Wynne was hauled over the coals for his unacceptable language and was told in no uncertain terms that it would not be tolerated and this was his final warning. It was a proper dressing-down.
Strictly Come Dancing star Wynne Evans was ‘hauled over the coals’ and issued a final warning by bosses after he was caught making a vile sexual jibe about one of the show’s female hosts.
Evans was recorded crudely suggesting a three-way sex session with It Takes Two presenter and professional dancer Janette Manrara , using the demeaning term ‘spit roast’ during a photocall to launch the Strictly live tour
‘Wynne also gave a grovelling apology to Janette and her furious husband, Aljaz.’
A spokesman for BBC Studios and the Strictly live tour producers said: ‘We were not previously aware of the remark and did not receive any complaints.
‘We have made it very clear to Wynne that we do not tolerate such behaviour on the tour.’
But ticket holders were stunned to see Evans return to the stage yesterday at the Glasgow Hydro for matinee and evening shows, which were hosted by Manrara and included performances from her husband.
Laura Anne Goldie, 44, from Glasgow told the Mail: ‘It’ll make me feel completely different watching him this evening. It’s very ungentlemanly, I would say, and totally inappropriate… I definitely would be dropping him from the show.’
Women’s rights campaigners also criticised his appearance.
Dr Charlotte Proudman, founder of Right to Equality, told the Mail: ‘Welcoming Wynne Evans back into the workplace alongside the woman he objectified suggests sexualised comments about women carry no real consequences.
‘This decision forces the victim, and potentially other women, to share a professional space with someone who publicly degraded them, eroding trust in the workplace.’
A spokesman for BBC Studios and the Strictly live tour producers said: ‘We were not previously aware of the remark and did not receive any complaints. ‘We have made it very clear to Wynne that we do not tolerate such behaviour on the tour’
Ticket holders were stunned to see Evans return to the stage yesterday at the Glasgow Hydro for matinee and evening shows, which were hosted by Manrara and included performances from her husband
She also said the BBC needs to answer ‘serious questions’ as its move suggests there is a ‘toxic culture’.
After his comment came to light, Evans said: ‘My language was inappropriate and unacceptable, for which I sincerely apologise.’
Evans competed on Strictly with Katya Jones last year, where viewers spotted her forcibly stopping his hand from straying across her waist.
He later tried to give his partner a high five but she shot him a scathing look, rolled her eyes and turned away.
After viewers commented on this, Evans and Jones said they were ‘just messing around’ in what was a ‘very silly inside joke’.
Evans pulled out of Saturday night’s tour date in Glasgow , citing an ankle injury, and was summoned before Strictly tour bosses