Strictly stars Jamie Borthwick and Wynne Evans were reprimanded by the BBC over a backstage prank involving a sex toy during the show’s live tour.
A video, reportedly shared in the Strictly performers’ WhatsApp group, shows Borthwick waving the toy backstage at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena.
The EastEnders actor, 30, said it had been gifted to him as a joke by opera singer Wynne Evans, best known for the Go Compare adverts, according to the Sun on Sunday.
Borthwick is seen grinning in the footage, saying: “Look at what he bought me. I opened it up and he surprised me with this, didn’t he. It’s so funny.” The camera then pans to Evans, who is topless and rehearsing with professional dancer Neil Jones, according to The Sun on Sunday.
The video was reportedly recorded on January 18 — just two days after Evans made a sexual remark about dancer Janette Manrara at the Strictly tour’s PR launch on January 16. He stepped down from the tour a week later after that footage surfaced and sparked public backlash.
Sources say the latest clip has further raised concerns over the “inappropriate” culture behind the scenes of the hit BBC show.
A source said: “As soon as BBC executives were made aware of this shocking and immature footage being shared, they formally addressed the issue and reminded the pair they had to act professionally.
“The men were acting extremely immaturely and inappropriately, considering it was a family show, and many cast members didn’t share their crass sense of humour.
“Bosses were horrified and shocked, hoping to nip the issue in the bud, unaware the video had been shared more widely.”
Evans, a father-of-two, is said to believe his earlier comment was taken out of context. The BBC is understood to have halted an internal investigation into that incident due to concerns over his mental health.
At the time, Evans issued a public apology, saying: “My language was inappropriate and unacceptable, for which I sincerely apologise.”
Manrara, who now co-hosts Strictly spin-off It Takes Two and is married to dancer Aljaz Skorjanec, is understood to have made no complaint.
It wasn’t the first controversial moment involving Evans on the show. During the main series, viewers spotted a moment where his hand appeared to slide across the waist of professional partner Katya Jones, before she firmly moved it away. The pair later described the incident in a follow-up video as an inside joke.
Evans has since stepped back from his BBC Radio Wales show, which he “absolutely loves”, and is reportedly considering legal action against the BBC for reputational damage. With the support of his girlfriend Liz Brookes, he is said to have hired lawyers and compiled a 30-page dossier.
In a rare Instagram post, Evans encouraged followers to “try and stay positive” and added: “Truth wins.”
