Wynne Evans has revealed he is no longer friends with former Strictly partner Katya Jones, claiming she refused to publicly defend him after he was axed from the Strictly live tour in 2024 over inappropriate sexual remarks.
The opera singer said Jones and fellow professional Jamie Borthwick privately offered him support but told him they would have to check with their publicists before saying anything publicly. Evans said the refusal to speak out left him feeling abandoned by people he had considered friends, and that the experience had soured his memories of the show.
Evans was removed from the live tour after remarks he made were deemed inappropriate, a sanction that effectively ended his association with the BBC's flagship dance show. The 2024 series had already been a difficult one for Strictly, which was dealing with the fallout from several controversies around the treatment of contestants and the duty of care owed to those taking part.
The Welsh singer also claimed there was one feuding pairing in his 2024 series where the professional dancer was not upset when the couple was eliminated, lifting the lid on the tensions that can simmer behind the show's glittering facade. His account suggests a backstage atmosphere far removed from the sequins and smiles seen on screen.
Strictly Come Dancing remains one of the BBC's biggest entertainment properties, regularly drawing some of the largest audiences on British television. The corporation has worked hard to address concerns about backstage culture, introducing new welfare measures and making clear that misconduct will not be tolerated. But the programme's behind-the-scenes world continues to generate headlines.
For Evans, the episode has clearly left deep scars. His account of private sympathy and public silence paints a picture of an industry where reputational caution outweighs loyalty, and where friendships forged on the dancefloor do not always survive the harsh light of controversy. Whether Jones or Borthwick respond to his claims remains to be seen.
The 2024 series of Strictly was one of the most turbulent in the show's history, with several controversies prompting the BBC to overhaul its welfare procedures. Evans's claim about the feuding pairing will add to the sense that the series was troubled behind the scenes. The corporation has since introduced new measures, including chaperones in training rooms, in an effort to protect both celebrities and professionals. Whether those changes are enough to restore confidence remains to be seen. For Evans, the row with Jones appears to be final: he has drawn a line under the friendship and seems in no mood to forgive what he sees as a betrayal.