The BBC have confirmed that Wynne Evans will be ‘taking time off’ from presenting his BBC Radio Wales show.
The Strictly Come Dancing 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.
BBC Wales refused to comment on whether Evans had voluntarily taken leave from his programme on Monday or if he had been asked not to present.
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 Evans in the past, will be presenting in his’ place while he takes some time off.
Evans– the tenor known for the Go Compare ads and a BBC radio presenter – was recorded earlier this month crudely suggesting a three-way sex session with Strictly presenter Janette Manrara, using the hugely demeaning term ‘spit roast’.
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.’
The BBC have confirmed that Wynne Evans will be ‘taking time off’ from presenting BBC Radio Wales show (pictured on Sunday leaving his hotel in Glasgow)
Evans’s latest crass comments came as he posed for pictures with Ms Manrara, 41, a professional dancer who is hosting the live tour, and EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick, 30.
The reaction of Ms Manrara is unclear on the footage as she is momentarily obscured by other Strictly stars. But Borthwick appears to wince as Evans sniggers to himself.
Evans 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.’
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 Ms Manrara, who hosts the TV spin-off Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, is summoned to join them. As she approaches, Evans warns her with a grin: ‘Not too close to Jamie!’
He then pulls a suggestive face at the actor, behind Ms Manrara’s back, as she moves between them. It is at this point that Evans makes his disgusting joke at her expense.
Seconds later, her dancer husband Aljaz Skorjanec, who was standing nearby, asks her: ‘Darling, are you OK?’ She replies curtly: ‘Yep.’
The Strictly Come Dancing 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
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, using the hugely demeaning term ‘spit roast’
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.
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.
The BBC faces calls to take further action against the opera singer-turned-presenter, who was welcomed back on the Strictly tour 7on Sunday and will front a new BBC1 travel series on Monday night.
An insider said: ‘Wynne was hauled over the coals for his unacceptable language and was told in no uncertain terms that it would not be tolerated and this was his final warning. It was a proper dressing-down.’
‘Wynne also gave a grovelling apology to Janette and her furious husband, Aljaz.’
Ticket holders were stunned to see Evans return to the stage yesterday at the Glasgow Hydro for matinee and evening shows, which were hosted by Manrara and included performances from her husband.
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’
Evans pulled out of Saturday night’s tour date in Glasgow , citing an ankle injury, and was summoned before Strictly tour bosses
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’.
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