Wynne Evans has falsely claimed The Mail on Sunday ‘manipulated’ the video of him making a vile sexual comment about his Strictly co-star Janette Manrara.
Opera singer Evans, 53, who is fighting to save his career at the BBC, accused the paper of ‘totally changing the narrative of private conversations’ in a Facebook post.
The star pulled out of the show’s nationwide tour after our video showed he crudely suggested three-way sex, using the hugely demeaning term ‘spit roast’ to the dancer.
Evans, who is also on leave from his BBC Wales show, is currently at the centre of a Corporation investigation into his behaviour.
Facebook users were angry at Evans’ posts – and ridiculed his attempts to wriggle out of responsibility for his nauseating remark.
When the MoS reported his comments at a press conference at Birmingham Arena four months ago, Evans made no attempt then to say it was untrue, instead profusely apologising to Ms Manrara and then leaving the tour.
But last month Evans launched a fight-back, telling The Sun his ‘spit roast’ comment was a light-hearted reference to EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick ‘looking like a spit roast chicken’ because of how he warmed up on Strictly.
Wynne Evans has falsely claimed The Mail on Sunday ‘manipulated’ the video of him making a vile sexual comment about his Strictly co-star Janette Manrara
Opera singer Evans, 53, who is fighting to save his career at the BBC, accused the paper of ‘totally changing the narrative of private conversations’ in a Facebook post. Pictured: Wynne Evans and dance partner Katya Jones
The star pulled out of the show’s nationwide tour after our video showed he crudely suggested three-way sex, using the hugely demeaning term ‘spit roast’ to the dancer
Now with the Facebook post, Evans’ story has changed yet again. The MoS vehemently refutes Evans’ latest claims.
One Facebook user said: ‘You did say that awful comment about a woman just doing her job. It was caught on camera. So how could the press have manipulated that?
‘I’m sure you are sorry you’ve been caught and there’s footage to prove that disgusting thing you said. But how can you blame the press for something you did?’
Evans replied: ‘The audio was manipulated. I didn’t say what they said.’
He later posted: ‘Thank you everyone for your support I promise you I have done nothing wrong, it’s been a manipulation and totally changing of the narrative of private conversations by the press.’
The video, taken by MoS reporter Dolly Busby, shows the Go Compare! frontman standing in the middle of a line-up of 20 celebrities and dancers as Ms Manrara, the host of the Strictly spin-off show, 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 Evans makes his disgusting joke.
The outcome of the BBC’s investigation is likely to be revealed within a couple of weeks.