STRICTLY Come Dancing's Wynne Evans has revealed the heartbreaking discussion he had with his daughter after being sacked from the BBC show tour.
The broadcaster appeared tearful in his first chat since the BBC One series scandal, during which he slammed Strictly and broadcasting bosses and admitted he'd considered taking his own life.
Welshman Wynne, 53, who was paired with Katya Jones, 36, during Strictly's 2024 season, opened up on a variety of incidents during his time on the main series as well as nationwide tour.
In his first public TV appearance since the scandal the opera singer explained his side of a misheard comment during a photo call, where it was alleged he directed the offensive term "spitroast" toward professional dancer Janette Manrara.
Go Compare singer Wynne was axed after the video went viral back in January.
He told the ITV daytime show: “The reporters had left, we were there having stills (photos) taken.
“I was there talking to Jamie Borthwick — I had this nickname for him, which was 'old' and then the word in question, and then 'boy', I used to call him this because he could contort his legs over his head.
“I didn't know there was a reporter there still recording apparently from a distance away, they took their spin on it their own narrative, taken out the words ‘old’ and ‘boy’, which you can absolutely see in the video, it’s absolutely crystal clear.
“When we've had the volume looked at they're there, the words are there for everyone to see.
“Even though I’m looking at Jamie, they claimed I’m directing this word at Janette.
“Totally taken out of context, the narrative is so wrong on it.
“I was shocked and horrified. Instead of a nickname with another word for rotisary, it's turned into a sexual innuendo, I was mortified by it."
He then went on to detail how he relayed the shock news to his daughter Ismay.
He shares Ismay and her brother, Taliesin, with ex-wife Tanwen Evans and told how he told his daughter: "I said, ‘I'm sorry, I brought shame on the family because even though I didn't do what they said I did, I still brought all these headlines.’
"And, she just said, ‘Look, Dad, I know you. You’re just a kind person and I just want you to know that I know, I can see the video [of his comment to Jamie].
"'I've seen it for myself. I know exactly what you said.’”
Wynne then added how his family were on a 24-7 watch during his darkest days to keep him company.
He confessed the moment the press tour rang him to question the alleged remark.
“I’d just lost my brother, I’d broken my foot, I was lying in a hotel room, papers calling me. The Strictly press tour rang me saying I’m meant to have said this word. I said, ‘Oh God, I’m sorry.’
“They took that as an apology and sent it to the papers — that looked like I’d validated the story.”
BBC SNUB?
During the lengthy telly chat, he also claimed he had not been contacted by the BBC after being axed from his Radio Wales show.
The corporation said he was offered a dedicated contact at the BBC and was offered "continued" mental health support since his contract concluded.
“I haven’t heard from the BBC since I got suspended, personally, they've only spoke to my lawyers” Wynne told hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard.
He also addressed several incidents that generated headlines during his time on the Strictly live tour.
He spoke about the now-infamous “sex toy” incident involving fellow contestant Jamie Borthwick, and admitted ordering a device for the EastEnders alum was a joke that had "gone too far."
His confessions came after Wynne told The Sun he wanted to take his own life in his darkest moments.
He only found out he’d been fired by the BBC after reading it in The Sun - and days later discovered his BBC pass was deactivated without warning.
He told us: “One of the things I was disappointed with the BBC about is I’ve spoken openly about my mental health, I’ve made programmes for the BBC about it, done stuff for Mental Health Day.
"I’ve done long interviews for them where I’ve talked about wanting to kill myself.
“Nobody should use that as an excuse if it’s not what they’re going through. But I’ve catalogued my mental health for years and I’ve been really open about it, so it was really hard and I felt like I was pushed to the real end.
“But I am feeling a lot stronger now.”
HAPPY CHAPTER
Just yesterday, we reported how Wynne has popped the question to his girlfriend - and she said yes.
Yet on today's chat Wynne, who proposed to his partner Liz Brookes in Morocco, also said he regrets signing up to Strictly.
He told Cat and Ben today: “I wouldn’t do it. It wasn’t a safe environment for me.
“I loved Katya and the guys that were there. I’m happy now to be back in Wales.”
He also revealed that he’s launching his own new radio show: The Wynne Evans Show, airing weekdays from 9am to 12pm on his website.
Speaking of his engagement, he took to Instagram to write: "Big news… I got engaged!
"This weekend in Morocco, somewhere between the couscous, the camels, and me limping around the souks like a man with no spatial awareness, I proposed to Liz — and she said yes! (No take-backs, I’ve checked.)
"She’s clever, she’s kind, she’s got excellent taste in men. Absolutely no idea how I pulled that off, but here we are!
"Feeling very lucky, very happy, and just a tiny bit smug."
A source told The Sun: "It has been a tumultuous six months for Wynne but Liz has been his absolute rock throughout.
"Finally some wonderful news for Wynne and his inner circle to celibate and everyone is chuffed for them both."
