Wynne Evans missed his own birthday celebrations on Monday night, with his Strictly co-stars heading on a night out without him.
It emerged on Tuesday that the Go Compare singer had been axed from the Strictly tour after ignoring repeated warnings from BBC bosses.
The star was caught on film by The Mail on Sunday making a vile sexual comment about one of the show’s female hosts, it emerged on Saturday.
And on Monday night his co-stars headed out without him to celebrate his 53rd birthday, with both Tasha Ghouri and Amy Dowden sharing snaps for the outing on social media.
Wynne snubbed the fancy dinner at Gaucho in Liverpool, with the likes of Love Island’s Tasha Ghouri, Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood seen at the bash alongside Janette’s husband Aljaz Skorjanec.
A source told The Sun: ‘The gang were keen to do something for Wynne’s birthday because he’s had a hard time.
Wynne Evans missed his own birthday celebrations on Monday night, with his Strictly co-stars heading on a night out without him
On Monday night his co-stars headed out without him to celebrate his 53rd birthday, with Tasha Ghouri sharing a glamorous snap from the night out with pro Lauren Oakley
‘They organised a cake for him and everything, but he didn’t show up.
‘Everyone had a great time anyway but it was really sad he didn’t join them, but now they know he has been axed, it all makes sense.’
An insider has now revealed that bosses have kicked Wynne off the Strictly tour after he was given ‘repeated warnings about his behaviour‘.
There are 12 dates left on the tour with the cast due to take to the stage in Liverpool tonight with BBC Studios planning to release a statement later today.
The BBC have come under fire in recent days to take action after Wynne was caught on camera crudely suggesting a three-way sex session with presenter Janette Manrara, 41, using the hugely demeaning term ‘spit roast’.
On Monday, Wynne accepted the BBC’s offer to take time off from his BBC Wales show, which he has been hosting from regional studios while he has been taking part on the nationwide tour.
A source told MailOnline the break was sparked by the furore surrounding his comment, plus the fact he is still mourning his older brother Huw, who died earlier this month, combined with the physical toll of being on the road.
‘He’s had repeated warnings about his behaviour and told to rein it in. He’s not been taking it in, in this day and age the BBC have to be seen taking action and safeguard everyone,’ an insider has now told The Sun.
Amy Dowden beamed as she shared a snap of her hairstyle, with sources saying that Wynne ‘didn’t show up’ for his birthday celebrations
After it was claimed that Wynne has been axed from the tour, his professional partner Katya Jones was seen exiting her hotel
Fellow tour star Tasha Ghouri was also spotted heading to the M&S Bank Arena for the Strictly cast’s latest tour show
It comes after an insider revealed that bosses have kicked Wynne off the Strictly tour after he was given ‘repeated warnings about his behaviour’ (he is pictured on Sunday)
There are 12 dates left on the tour with the cast due to take to the stage in Liverpool tonight – Wynne is pictured with his dance partner Katya Jones
‘He’s had a tough time with the death of his brother and people should give him some slack, he is going to take this time off to do some self reflection.
‘He has a lot of support from a lot of the backstage dancers. It’s been a really sad ending to what has been a really fun tour.’
Wynne’s Strictly co-stars stars were said to be rallying around the Welshman on his birthday, after the BBC confirmed he’s been granted leave from his radio show.
Wynne was comforted by his co-stars on his 53rd birthday on Monday, as they’re mindful of his fragile mental health.
An insider said: ‘Wynne is being supported by his co-stars, they’re making a big push to ensure he’s ok as they’re worried about his mental health.
‘He’s had a tough few days and with it being his birthday today, they’re making a real effort to show he’s not alone.’
He was expected to present his show on Monday morning, but in a statement, BBC Wales said that comedian Robin Morgan, who has covered for him in the past, will be presenting in his place while he takes some time off.
In an update on Sunday it was revealed that the presenter was ‘hauled over the coals’ and issued a final warning by bosses for the comment but there were calls for the BBC to take further action.
His new BBC travel show with Joanna Page aired on Monday night despite the furore.
Wynne was seen on Monday in Liverpool city centre with Strictly co–stars Katya Jones and Kai Widdrington
The Go Compare star was caught on film by The Mail on Sunday making a vile sexual comment
Ticket holders were stunned to see Wynne return to the stage on Sunday at the Glasgow Hydro for matinee and evening shows, which were hosted by Janette and included performances from her husband.
Laura Anne Goldie, 44, from Glasgow told the Mail: ‘It’ll make me feel completely different watching him this evening. It’s very ungentlemanly, I would say, and totally inappropriate… I definitely would be dropping him from the show.’
Women’s rights campaigners also criticised his appearance.
Dr Charlotte Proudman, founder of Right to Equality, told the Mail: ‘Welcoming Wynne Evans back into the workplace alongside the woman he objectified suggests sexualised comments about women carry no real consequences.
‘This decision forces the victim, and potentially other women, to share a professional space with someone who publicly degraded them, eroding trust in the workplace.’
She also said the BBC needs to answer ‘serious questions’ as its move suggests there is a ‘toxic culture’.
His gross comment came at a photocall to launch the Strictly live tour and swiftly earned a rebuke from BBC bosses who told him: ‘We will not tolerate such behaviour.’
Wynne’s crass comments came as he posed for pictures with Janette Manrara, 41, a professional dancer who is hosting the live tour, and EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick, 30.
The reaction of Janette is unclear on the footage as she is momentarily obscured by other Strictly stars. But Borthwick appears to wince as Wynne sniggers to himself.
Wynne pulled out of a Glasgow performance of the Strictly tour on Saturday, citing an ankle injury. But he told The Mail on Sunday: ‘My language was inappropriate and unacceptable, for which I sincerely apologise.’
His gross comment came at a photocall to launch the Strictly live tour and swiftly earned a rebuke from BBC bosses who told him: ‘We will not tolerate such behaviour’
Wynne – the tenor known for the Go Compare ads and a BBC radio presenter – was recorded crudely suggesting a three-way sex session with presenter Janette Manrara
A spokesman for BBC Studios and the Strictly Live tour producers 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.’
The incident was captured on video and audio by a Mail on Sunday reporter at the official launch of this year’s tour at the Birmingham Arena ten days ago, and brings new embarrassment to the BBC after a string of scandals.
In the MoS film Evans stands in the middle of a line-up of 20 celebrities and dancers as Janette, who hosts the TV spin-off Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, is summoned to join them. As she approaches, Wynne warns her with a grin: ‘Not too close to Jamie!’
He then pulls a suggestive face at the actor, behind Janette’s back, as she moves between them. It is at this point that Wynne makes his disgusting joke at her expense.
Wynne was seen heading into Liverpool’s City Centre on Monday with his professional partner Katya Jones, after travelling to Merseyside for the next leg of the Strictly tour
The drama continued for Wynne on Monday night with the decision to air his new BBC travel show All At Sea sparking fierce backlash
Wynne was comforted by his co-stars on his 53rd birthday on Monday, as they’re mindful of his fragile mental health (pictured on Strictly last year)
Seconds later, her dancer husband Aljaz Skorjanec, who was standing nearby, asks her: ‘Darling, are you OK?’ She replies curtly: ‘Yep.’
Ms Manrara’s spokeswoman said the host had been ‘unaware of this comment by Wynne’ which was audible to our reporter filming with a mobile phone 20 yards away.
That his ‘spit-roast’ comment was made at a media event will infuriate Corporation bosses still struggling to repair Strictly’s tainted image following bullying complaints and junior staff’s claims of a ‘toxic’ behind-the-scenes culture.
The drama continued for Wynne on Monday night with the decision to air his new BBC travel show All At Sea sparking fierce backlash.
An insider told The Mirror as the show aired’ that the timing of this is deeply unfortunate…the comments were idiotic and have clearly overshadowed the first episode. What on earth was he thinking?’
Viewers questioned why his show – which he stars alongside Joanna Page – wasn’t postponed following his latest Strictly Come Dancing scandal.
Others demanded Wynne to ‘get off the telly’ in a furious rant on X amid the backlash surrounding an vile sexual remark.
Angry viewers wrote on X during his show: ‘Why are we being forced to endure Wynne Evans? Everyone hates the go compare ads but bbc seem determined to make him a thing. Whoever runs their old white man department needs a gentle chat’,
‘Just a thought BBC, but maybe this Wynne Evans #AllAtSea prime time claptrap could have been postponed for a while?’.
‘They’ve taken Wynne Evans off air for a joke, but this will be glossed over with likely no apology.’
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