Welsh opera singer Wynne Evans has denied being a "misogynist" after apologising for using "inappropriate" language during a photocall on the Strictly tour.
Evans, who presents on BBC Radio Wales and is known for his Go.Compare adverts, had been touring with the live show following his stint on BBC One's Strictly with Katya Jones last year.
However, a report by the Mail On Sunday alleged that Evans made lewd comments about Janette Manrara during a cast photocall, prompting him to issue a statement apologising for his actions.
In it, he said: "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 actions have caused, and plan to take this time for self-reflection."
In a conversation with the Sun on Sunday, he insisted that he hadn't seen the statement apologising for the comment.
He clarified to the newspaper that the remark was neither sexual nor directed at Manrara, but was a nickname for fellow contestant, EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick.
He explained: "I didn't see the statement. Old Spit-roast Boy was a nickname for Jamie Borthwick.
"I'm not a bad guy, I'm not a misogynist, I'm not any of these things."
He added: "It's been heartbreaking. Spit-roast boy' was a nickname we all gave Jamie Borthwick because he could contort his legs over his head like a spit-roast chicken.
"But it absolutely wasn't meant sexually – and the fact I used 'boy', all right it's nuanced, but it shows I was talking to Jamie, not Janette.
"And of course, your natural reaction is, if you're told you've offended someone, you say, 'God, I'm so sorry'.
"And so I went, 'I'm so sorry'. And that was taken as a formal apology, so the press team issued a statement. I didn't see it.
"When I read the apology within the context of the story as it had been written, I was absolutely horrified.
"It's been a truly awful past few months, having to keep my counsel and let the narrative that I'm some sort of weirdo run.
"I'm not a misogynist, I'm not any of these things."
Evans also faced criticism when a video surfaced showing him placing his hand on professional dancer Jones's waist, which she moved, during last year's Strictly Come Dancing competition.
He claimed this was a "body language experiment" from TikTok tha Jones had suggested, and added: "We did it, we laughed, we went downstairs to makeup and my phone explodes and I look at it... and let me tell you the body language experiment worked."
Later Evans and Jones apologised claiming that it had been a "joke".
The singer performed in the 25th anniversary of The Phantom Of The Opera and also won 2023's Celebrity MasterChef.
