Wynne Evans' Strictly Come Dancing partner Katya Jones has thrown her support behind the under-fire opera singer after he was caught making a sick sexual jibe about one of the show's female hosts.
Just four months after Evans was caught grabbing Ms Jones' waist during a show, the singer is facing further controversy after he was filmed making a vile sexual comment at a photocall to launch the Strictly live tour in Birmingham this month.
Evans, who PR experts have warned is now 'hanging onto his job', has been touring with the Strictly live show after competing with professional dance partner Ms Jones last year.
Their appearance on the show was marred by a 'groping' row after Ms Jones had to remove Evans' hand from her waist during a show last October.
Ms Jones also appeared to snub a high-five attempt from Evans, but the pair both insisted the whole saga was a 'joke' that had been misunderstood.
The presenter, who hosts his show on BBC Radio Wales every day at 9am, was embroiled in further controversy just weeks later after he made a 'vulgar' joke to a make-up artist about his double chin resembling a vagina.
In the latest scandal to rock Evans and the BBC, the Welsh singer was caught on film by The Mail On Sunday crudely suggesting a three-way sex session with presenter Janette Manrara, using the hugely demeaning term 'spit roast'.
But Ms Jones has once again shown her support for Evans, sharing a photo of them alongside Strictly celebrities Jamie Borthwick, who the singer made the 'spit roast' comment to, and TashaGhouri. She captioned the photo 'Tour fam' with a heart emoji.
Wynne Evans' Strictly Come Dancing partner Katya Jones has thrown her support behind the under-fire opera singer. She shared this picture of them with Tasha Ghouri and Jamie Borthwick
Strictly Come Dancing star Wynne Evans broke cover this morning after being caught making a sick sexual jibe about one of the show's female hosts
During one of the live shows in October, Wynne put his arm around Katya only for her to knock his hand away
A second awkward interaction saw the pro dancer appear to shun her celebrity partner's attempts at a high five
Wynne Evans was caught on film by The Mail On Sunday making a vile sexual comment at a photocall to launch the Strictly live tour in Birmingham earlier this month
It comes after Evans, known for his Go Compare adverts and his BBC Radio Wales show, was pictured leaving his hotel in Glasgow, where he is currently staying for the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour shows.
Evans, dressed in a navy coat and denim jeans, stepped out into the city centre with a grimace on his face as he deals with the fallout from another sleaze scandal.
The Corporation has rebuked Evans for his 'unacceptable behaviour', which has been exposed ahead of his new BBC show with Gavin & Stacey star Joanna Page airing on Monday night.
Evans' latest 'spit roast' joke has heaped further controversy on Strictly Come Dancing, which was plunged into turmoil by the Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice scandal last year.
After coming under fire for his third gaffe in the space of just a few months, brand and culture expert Nick Ede told MailOnline: 'I think the BBC will have to tread very carefully with Wynne as his controversial and lewd comments will soon outweigh his popularity and the BBC won't tolerate this anymore.
'He will hanging on to his position but all eyes will be on him and if he makes another negative move the BBC may have to sever their ties with him.'
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 did sing. 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.'
And as pressure mounts on Evans, a spokesperson for BBC Wales told MailOnline this morning: 'We support the statement made by BBC Studios. We do not tolerate unacceptable behaviour.'
Hours after the footage was published by the Mail, Evans defiantly posted a trailer for his new BBC show, Wynne and Joanna: All At Sea, on Instagram.
The show will follow him and Joanna Page set sail to explore the coast of South Wales.
The opera singer, known for his Go Compare adverts and his BBC Radio Wales show, was pictured leaving his hotel in Glasgow
On Sunday morning, Evans defiantly posted a trailer for his new BBC show, Wynne and Joanna: All At Sea, on Instagram. It will air on Monday
The 52-year-old, dressed in a black coat and denim jeans, stepped out into the Glasgow city centre
The former Celebrity Masterchef winner also told his followers in a video on Instagram last night: '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.'
Responding to the latest incident, Mr Ede said: 'The BBC know that all eyes are on them when it comes to Strictly and even though the show is off air, the live tour is a flagship show for them and perpetuates the popularity of the format and allows people up and down the country to feel they are part of the Strictly family.
'All eyes have been on the conduct of the professional dancers but now it's Welsh star Wynne Evans who's in the hot seat. He has been a controversial figure due to his on screen relationship with Katya and his dad jokes that haven't landed well.
'It is definitely a headache for the BBC to have to constantly monitor the talent associated with them and the show and this latest incident has seen Wynne make a lewd 'dad joke' to host Janette.
'In the past this may have been brushed under the carpet and put down to nerves and banter but because the show has such a microscope on it for any minute misconduct the BBC has had to make a quick comment on it to stop it escalating and further and damaging the brand in any way.
Mr Ede warned that while Evans is a 'very popular star' who has become a 'BBC favourite, he will have been 'reprimanded as the last thing they want is any more complaints or legal dramas' ahead of the next season of Strictly.
The 52-year-old was recorded crudely suggesting a three-way sex session with presenter Janette Manrara (pictured), using the hugely demeaning term 'spit roast'
Janette Manrara's husband, Aljaz Skorjanec, was also pictured leaving the hotel after Evans' comment about his wife was revealed
Evans arriving at his hotel last night after pulling out of a Glasgow performance of the Strictly tour, citing an ankle injury
The former Celebrity Masterchef winner also told his followers in a video on Instagram last night: '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.'
Wynne Evans was 'banished' by his co-stars in a Traitors game played on tour, just days after he was caught on camera making a vile sexual jibe
During last year's televised shows, the 52-year-old (left) was accused of 'groping' his dance partner Katya Jones (right)
Evan's 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 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
Ms Manrara during the Strictly Come Dancing - The Live Tour launch, at Utilita Arena, Birmingham
The latest 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 worst, news anchor Huw Edwards was convicted of accessing indecent images of children as young as seven.
Later Gregg Wallace was forced to step away from MasterChef amid allegations of sexually inappropriate behaviour. And Strictly itself, long celebrated as wholesome entertainment, was itself plagued by controversy.
In the MoS film Evans, a presenter on BBC Radio Wales, 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.'
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.
In addition to appearing on Strictly last year, father-of-two Evans won Celebrity MasterChef in 2023. His new BBC1 travel show, All At Sea, with Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page, begins tomorrow night.
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.
Three days into rehearsals in 2023, actress Amanda Abbington complained about her dance partner Giovanni Pernice.
A year later the BBC apologised to her, upholding verbal bullying and harassment complaints but clearing Pernice of physical aggression.
Then Graziano Di Prima was sacked after footage from rehearsals showed him kicking Love Island star Zara McDermott.
Last year Evans won millions of Strictly fans with his jollity and determination to learn to dance, but then suddenly faced criticism after viewers spotted a grimacing Ms Jones forcibly removing his hand as it strayed across her waist as they faced the cameras backstage.
Afterwards Evans tried to give his partner a high five, but she shot him a scathing look, rolled her eyes and turned away.
Attempting to defuse the row, Evans and Ms Jones said they were 'just messing around' and that it was a 'very silly inside joke'.
Two weeks later, the Welsh tenor also caused further controversy when he suggested to a make-up artist that the folds of his double chin looked like a vagina.
Evans apparently insisted his joke was self-deprecating, did not cause offence and was made in a private conversation with at least one other person in the room. It is unclear if a complaint was made or whether the incident was investigated.
A week after the 'spit-roasting' comment Evans appeared on The One Show to talk about the 'banter' on tour. He said: 'It's fun... Craig [Revel Horwood] called me yesterday, he said I was stompy and flat-footed.
'So I said: 'Have you heard your album, mate, that's stompy and flat if ever I've heard it!' So yeah, there's quite a lot of banter.
'He gave me a two yesterday, so I was absolutely gutted, just because I was a bit rude about his album.'
Evans suffered clinical depression and his weight rose to 22 stone after he and his wife of 17 years, Tanwen, decided to get divorced in 2016.
He is now dating Liz Brookes, aged 50, an events manager and fitness fanatic credited with his dramatic seven-stone weight loss.
