Strictly Come Dancing star Wynne Evans has opened up about speculation surrounding his and professional partner Katya Jones’ relationship after she removed his hand from her waist during Saturday night's live show.
The pair have both apologised, saying the moment was a “joke” after a clip showing the incident was widely shared on social media.
Tongues were set wagging when the 52-year-old opera singer - who is best known for the Go Compare insurance adverts - appeared to slide his hand across Jones’ waist, before she pushed it away.
Later on in the show, Evans offered the Russian native a high five, which she ignored before turning back to the camera, stony-faced.
It comes at a time when the hit BBC dance show is facing heightened scrutiny following a number of celebrities speaking out negatively about their experiences while taking part in it.
Appearing on BBC Radio Wales on Monday, Evans said angry reactions directed at him from fans was “tedious” and admitted the “joke” was “not funny”.
He told listeners: “I'm absolutely heartbroken by the things that have been written about me in the last day.
“It's not nice to live in that time, but basically Katya and I are really, really close and we're really good friends, and on Saturday night we made a stupid joke.
“It was a stupid joke that went wrong, okay, we thought it was funny. It wasn't funny. It has been totally misinterpreted.”
He continued: “Everything's on Katya's socials. She's talked about it. She's explained that it was a joke. She wasn't offended in the least. She doesn't feel uncomfortable.
“We've got a brilliant friendship, an absolutely tight friendship, and I'm sorry if anybody was offended by it, but it was a joke and yeah, that's all there is, there is no real story, really.
“And I feel weird apologising because I feel like I've not really done anything.”
Being interviewed on Radio Wales Breakfast before starting his own show on the station, he agreed that he had “misjudged it”.
He also confirmed he was “absolutely still up for” taking part in Strictly.
Evans said: “I'm having the best time of my life. I just don't want this to be the bit that people remember.”
He also vowed to speak on the matter further with Jones on spin-off show Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two.
Meanwhile, Evans has seen his price to be the next contestant eliminated from Strictly slashed by bookmakers.
Ex-footballer Paul Merson is the favourite to exit the competition this week, with TV personality Dr Punam Krishan a 9/4 chance.
Lee Astley, spokesperson for betideas.com, said: “Wynne Evans is half the price he was last week to be the next Strictly contestant eliminated following a viral clip between him and dance partner Katya Jones, now trading at 7/1 to be the fourth casualty of the series from 14/1.
Former field hockey player and television presenter Sam Quek and singer and actor Shayne Ward are both hovering in joint fourth position of the dancer zone with odds of 8/1.
Despite being an early favourite to win, former X Factor winner Ward found himself up against DIY SOS star Nick Knowles in the dreaded dance-off at the weekend.
All four judges voted to save him.
