The singer released a statement on his Instagram page after seeing pictures of Strictly Come Dancing
Wynne Evans has claimed his “voice was taken away” in a statement where he has made accusations against BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. The Welsh tenor took part in the 20th anniversary series of the dance show alongside professional dancer Katya Jones.
In May, the 53-year-old, arguably best known for his appearances in the Go.Compare insurance adverts, revealed he had been let go by the BBC and would no longer host on BBC Radio Wales after apologising for using “inappropriate language” during the launch of the Strictly tour.
He has now penned a lengthy post on his Instagram page expressing his thoughts on the period of events. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter
He wrote: “What it feels like to see pictures of Strictly? 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.
He accused the BBC of “lies and cover‑ups”, adding: “The only thing they truly care about is protecting themselves and their jobs and Ratings – people come second.
“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.
“I’ve always worn my heart on my sleeve, and while I may sometimes sail close to the line, there’s never malice in what I do.
“What I wasn’t prepared for was the way people will protect their personal and BBC brands, at any cost.”
He added that he was left dealing with “twisted facts, invented files and dates” and “a version of events that simply wasn’t true”.
He said: “Statements were issued in my name that I hadn’t even seen, let alone agreed to. My voice was taken away.
“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.
“I’m not writing this as a victim, as I said I will own my mistakes . I’m writing it because the system 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.
“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.”
The BBC has said it will not be issuing a statement.
At the time, a BBC spokesperson said: “The apology issued on Wynne’s behalf by the Strictly Come Dancing Tour PR representative on Saturday January 25 was fully approved by Wynne.”