Wynne Evans says he will regret for the rest of his life the controversial 'spit roast' remark he made at a Strictly Come Dancing photocall, after the BBC confirmed it would not renew his rolling contract in the wake of the incident.
Evans, 53, was filmed by the Daily Mail at a photocall launching the Strictly live tour in January, appearing to reference a three-way sexual encounter with host Janette Manrara. The BBC condemned the comments and said it would not tolerate such behavior. Evans apologized at the time, but later said he was forced to and that the term 'spit roast' was a nickname for fellow contestant Jamie Borthwick.
Following an investigation into his behaviour, BBC bosses told Evans they would not be renewing his yearly rolling contract, ending his radio show.
On Friday, Evans spoke to Nick Ferrari on LBC, saying, 'I said the word so I should have accountability for that, and I wasn't ready for that level of scrutiny, and I shouldn't have done it. And that's it.' He added, 'I totally take that as my responsibility and something that I shouldn't have done, and I will regret that for the rest of my life. At 53 you know, to lose all your singing work, to lose all your television work, to lose your radio show, it's not an easy thing to have happen to you, but it was my fault.'
He also said he would have left Strictly earlier if his mental health had started to suffer, noting that 'you cannot get your head around the press and media interest that there is in this show. So everything you do is under scrutiny.' He said he still praises the hit show while acknowledging the toll the episode took on his career.
The BBC has not disclosed public details of any ongoing disciplinary outcome beyond the decision not to renew Evans's rolling contract, and the external review of the production linked to the affair had been launched by the Corporation in July.
Evans has since continued to perform in broadcasting, hosting a radio show on his own website and launching a supporters club that offers members early bookings and other perks. Membership is advertised as £4.10 a month for individuals or £6.50 for couples, with quarterly prize draws and a newsletter; the current quarterly prize includes a long weekend at his house in Llansteffan, Wales, for six guests.
In recent remarks, Evans said on air that he told BBC Director General Tim Davie about illegal activities he believed had taken place on the show, signaling he sought to bring concerns to the top of the corporation’s leadership.
The notes accompanying the coverage indicate additional reporting over the past months, including references to an external investigation and other internal discussions within the BBC about the Strictly production. The Daily Mail and related reports also highlighted allegations and legal submissions connected to the broader controversy, including a claim that Evans made a submission to the BBC via his law firm Russells about alleged drug use on the show.
The ongoing fallout continues to be a focal point in UK entertainment discourse, illustrating how a single remarks incident can ripple across a major broadcaster and a high-profile talent’s career. Evans’s case underscores the pressures of live, high-visibility television and the intense scrutiny that follows prominent moments inside a long-running cultural program.