Controversy continues to swirl around the BBC’s “Strictly Come Dancing” following a recent reprimand of stars Jamie Borthwick and Wynne Evans regarding inappropriate behaviour during the show’s live tour.
The situation escalated after a video surfaced depicting actor Jamie Borthwick, 30, playfully displaying a novelty item—a gift from singer Wynne Evans, 53—to the group’s WhatsApp chat. The clip, obtained by *The Sun*, shows Borthwick holding up the object, sent as a joke, while pointing the camera toward Evans who was practicing alongside professional dancer Neil Jones.
“Look at what he bought me. I opened it up and he surprised me with this, didn’t he? It’s so funny,” Borthwick said in the video.
This incident occurs amidst ongoing scrutiny of backstage conduct within “Strictly Come Dancing” and follows previous allegations against Evans. A source reported that pranks between the two men were commonplace during the tour, but this particular instance was viewed as inappropriate by many cast members.
The video’s release came shortly after a separate incident in January where Evans was recorded making an offensive comment directed towards professional dancer and “It Takes Two” host Janette Manrara. According to reports, BBC executives swiftly intervened upon becoming aware of the shared video, reminding Borthwick and Evans of the need for professionalism.
“The men were acting extremely immaturely and inappropriately, considering it was a family show,” stated one source within the network. “Bosses were horrified and shocked, hoping to nip the issue in the bud, unaware the video had been shared more widely.”
As a direct consequence of these events, Evans was removed from the “Strictly Come Dancing” live tour. The BBC and tour producers released a joint statement: “We have made it clear to Wynne we do not tolerate such behaviour on tour.”
Evans subsequently issued an apology acknowledging his inappropriate language, stating, “My language was inappropriate and unacceptable, for which I sincerely apologise.” He also stepped down from his presenting duties on BBC Radio Wales.
However, sources close to Evans suggest he believes the situation has been handled unfairly. He is reportedly considering legal action against the BBC, alleging damage to his reputation. A scheduled meeting was postponed in February due to concerns for his mental wellbeing.
- Evans recently shared a photo of himself swimming in cold water, accompanied by the caption: “I find cold water swimming helps with my mental health. Please look after each other.”
The BBC and representatives for both Evans and Borthwick have been contacted for comment.
