Wynne Evans has apologised for an “inappropriate and unacceptable” sexual remark during the Strictly Come Dancing live tour launch.
The Welsh opera singer, 52, who is best known for singing the jingle in the Go Compare insurance advertisements, is touring with the live show after competing on the BBC One programme last year.
The Mail on Sunday reported that Evans was recorded using the term “spitroast” – slang for a three-person sexual position – in a remark allegedly aimed at the professional dancer and television presenter Janette Manrara.
The Guardian understands he was given a warning over the remark by tour producers.
In a statement, Evans said: “My language was inappropriate and unacceptable for which I sincerely apologise.”
A spokesperson for the Strictly live tour and BBC Studios said: “We were not previously aware of the remark and did not receive any complaints. We have made it very clear to Wynne that we do not tolerate such behaviour on the tour.”
In October, Evans and his dance partner, Katya Jones, apologised for a “joke” that resulted in her moving Evans’s hand from her waist during the BBC show. Jones defended Evans, saying he had been “portrayed as someone he is not” after the incident.
Later, appearing on the BBC Two spin-off showStrictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two alongside Evans, Jones said she wanted to “get something out of the way that I feel overshadowed our performance for absolutely no reason”.
“Quite frankly I can’t bear sitting here watching this man being portrayed as someone he is not,” she said. “And in fact it couldn’t be further away from the truth, so I have to make this absolutely clear, that this whole incident with the hand and the high-five on Saturday night, it was an inside joke between Wynne and I. Was it a silly joke? Yes. Was it a bad joke? Yes.”
She added: “Even the idea that it made me feel uncomfortable or offended in any way is total nonsense.”
In another moment, Jones had appeared to not want to high-five her celebrity partner, which they called “a running joke”.
Chaperones were put in place on Strictly during rehearsals last year after a review was launched by the BBC following contestant complaints.
Evans missed dancing on the tour in Glasgow on Saturday due to an ankle injury but is hoping to return. He shared images of his bruised ankle in a story on Instagram.
In a video posted on the social media site on Saturday evening, he said: “Ankle’s getting a bit better, it was great to be able to sing in Glasgow tonight, even if I couldn’t dance, hopefully back tomorrow. But watch this space, I’ll let you know in the morning. See how the swelling goes down, and all that kind of stuff, thanks for all the lovely messages, amazing.”
The Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood said Friday’s live performance of the hit dancing show in Glasgow had been cancelled and rescheduled for Sunday evening as Storm Éowyn forced people in the Scottish city to stay indoors.
The show on Saturday went ahead as planned, and it is expected the Sunday slot at the OVO Hydro Glasgow will also.
The tour next stops at the M&S Bank Arena Liverpool on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the First Direct Arena in Leeds on Thursday and Friday.
