STRICTLY fans are convinced Wynne Evans hid a ‘pointed’ swipe in his statement after being axed from the tour.
The Go Compare opera singer, 53, is facing backlash after making a crude sexual comment about pro dancer Janette Manrara, 41, at a photocall to launch the shows.
Breaking his silence on the firing, Wynne said yesterday evening: “I’ve agreed with the BBC that l’ll take some time out from my radio show and the Strictly Live tour, as well as my other public commitments, to prioritise my wellbeing.
“I am deeply sorry for the pain my inappropriate actions have caused, and plan to take this time for self-reflection.
“Apologies to those I won’t get to see at the remaining performances and I’m grateful to my fellow tour gang for all the amazing support they have given me.”
According to insiders, the incident followed “repeated warnings about his behaviour” leading show bosses to remove him from the tour.
But fans are now convinced he’s taken a cryptic swipe at them over the move – all because of one line suggesting his co-stars have his back.
Taking to a Reddit forum titled “Wynne’s statement”, one pointed out: “The ‘support from the tour gang’ is pretty pointed too. Think we’re being told that it’s only snowflakes who don’t really know him that wouldn’t be supportive.”
Another added: “Right! It feels very ‘everyone here likes me including the person I made the comment too so you’re all overreacting’.”
Someone else said: “Feels very like ‘oh everyone wanted me to stay and they all love me but I chose to leave for my mental health’.
“I wonder if any of them will mention his departure, to be fair they’ve probably been told not to.”
Others stood up for the sacked star, with one commenting: “Prioritise his wellbeing,” with another saying: “My thoughts are with his wellbeing…”
Last night, a Beeb insider said: “It’s been an incredibly difficult situation for all concerned.
“The BBC are damned if they do and damned if they don’t. But in this day and age, it felt untenable to keep Wynne on the tour.
“It was detracting from what is otherwise a family-friendly show. He had been warned repeatedly about his language, but the inappropriate remarks kept coming.
“And once one was captured on video, there was no going back.
“He is a man of a certain age, and it’s fair to say his puerile remarks — while funny to him and perhaps other men of a certain age — wore thin.”
The source went on: “He made jokes about at least two very graphic sexual positions and said the folds on his chin resembled a vagina.”
The chin comments were reportedly made while he was having his make-up done for the Strictly TV show.
Our source continued: “Ultimately this isn’t acceptable. The BBC have a safeguarding duty for everyone on the tour.
“Wynne has had a tough time of late. And it should be said he remains very popular with celebs and pros on set.
“His brother died recently, and he probably needs time off to reflect.”
The tenor, pictured in Glasgow at the weekend looking downcast, revealed this month that his older brother had died, calling him his “hero and inspiration”.
Execs at Go Compare, the insurance comparison website which Wynne has fronted since 2009, are understood to have held crisis meetings about their star’s future.
The Welsh opera singer, who made his name as moustachioed Gio Compario in the famous ads, is paid around £200,000 a year for his part.
A source added: “His deal with them hangs by a thread. Wynne is so popular with viewers, so it will be a very tough call, but the sense is it is hard to keep him on.”
Go Compare did not respond when The Sun asked for comment last night.
Viewers have taken to social media to ask the BBC why his show with Joanna is still on air. Its first episode was shown 24 hours after the comments scandal broke on Sunday.
There are five more episodes to go.
Representatives of Evans have been strongly advising him to hire a crisis PR expert to help salvage his image.
It comes as Evans split from his girlfriend of almost a year, Liz Brookes, amid the scandal.
Wynne Evans' Strictly scandals
‘Grope’
Wynne encountered a backlash after his Strictly pro partner Katya was filmed removing his hand from her waist.
Fans insisted she looked uncomfortable as she moved it away – but Katya later insisted there was no problem.
In joke
They then sparked further fury, when she was seen refusing to high-five the Opera singer.
The duo were quick to issue a video apology and insisted it was all an innocent “inside joke”.
Crude joke
Wynne came under fire for allegedly telling a “crude” joke to one of the show’s make-up artists.
Insiders claim the opera star made a joke that the folds of his double chin “looked like a vagina”.
A source said: “It was a bit of a vulgar dad joke.”
Vile comment
Wynne was recorded suggesting a three-way sex session with presenter Janette Manrara, using the term “spit roast”.
His remark came at a photocall to launch the Strictly live tour, which pro Janette, 41, is hosting.
He reportedly pulled a suggestive face at actor Jamie Borthwick as Janette moved between them — which is when Evans allegedly made the joke.
Wynne has apologised saying: “My language was inappropriate and unacceptable, for which I sincerely apologise.”
After signing up for the BBC1 dance contest he was plunged into “Gropegate”, when he was seen sliding his hands across the stomach of his pro dance partner Katya Jones.
A TV insider said: “Although Liz loyally stood by him in public, she was humiliated by what happened.
“She always knew he was a bit old school, and actually liked the fact he seemed rough round the edges. She just assumed it was part of his charm.
“But Wynne seemed to develop a particularly close relationship with Katya and seems to have got carried away, which many suspected contributed to Gropegate happening.
“Katya was also an enthusiastic defender of him when the scandal broke, taking to social media and TV to say it was actually an ‘inside joke’ between the two of them.
“It was very difficult for Liz but she continued to back him throughout the rest of the contest, often being seen in the audience enthusiastically applauding him, up to him being knocked out in Blackpool Week in November.
“It’s not clear exactly when they split, but friends say when his latest lewd gaffe was revealed at the Strictly Live Tour launch, she was relieved they were no longer together.”
Liz helped him to bounce back from divorcing his wife, with who Evans has two kids. Fitness fanatic Liz, from Cardiff, also helped him to lose weight.
She was in the audience throughout Strictly, often with Evans’s son Tal, and would post on social media about how proud she felt towards her boyfriend.
At the time of Gropegate, it was believed Liz had a good relationship with Katya.
The pro dancer has since unfollowed her on social media.
Wynne’s spokeswoman did not respond last night when asked for a comment on the split.
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