Former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Wynne Evans has made a heartbreaking confession, revealing that his time on the hit BBC show led to a severe mental health crisis and a suicide attempt.
The On-Screen Controversies
The 53-year-old opera singer, best known for the Go Compare adverts, competed on the 2024 series with professional dancer Katya Jones. His stint was marred by two significant incidents that sparked viewer backlash and media scrutiny.
During one live show, audiences observed Katya visibly moving Wynne's hand away from her waist and later refusing to high-five him. Speaking to Good Morning Britain, Evans admitted the moment "does look creepy" but explained it was a misguided "body language experiment" suggested by his partner.
"Katya said to me, 'look let's get down the front, you put your hand on my waist, I'll move it back, we'll see if anyone notices'," he recounted, calling the act "naïve" and "totally stupid."
The Career Consequences and Downward Spiral
The controversies did not end there. Evans was subsequently dropped from the Strictly Come Dancing tour and his BBC radio show for using "inappropriate language" during the programme's launch. He had appeared to use a sexually explicit term, which he later clarified was a "nickname for one of the other contestants" but conceded it was unsuitable for a workplace environment.
Reflecting on the fallout, Evans stated he had "paid the ultimate price" for his actions concerning his career. The intense scrutiny from the press and social media, however, led to a far more devastating personal outcome.
A Cry for Help and a Path to Recovery
In his most candid revelation, Wynne Evans disclosed that the unrelenting pressure led him to attempt to take his own life. "I went on a dancing show and ended up trying to take my own life," he told hosts Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid.
"I did end up in hospital - somebody found me, rung an ambulance and luckily for me, I'm here today." He described feeling trapped, believing that suicide was the only way to stop the "noise" from critics and the media, a feeling he said was echoed in recent documentaries about Caroline Flack.
Now on a journey of recovery, Evans says he is learning from his mistakes but not letting them define him. The experience has given him a "greater understanding" of his own mental health and a desire to help others who struggle to talk about their struggles.
If you're affected by the issues in this article, you can contact the Samaritans for free at any time on 116 123.
