Wynne Evans 'wanted to end his life' over Strictly Come Dancing scandal as he fights back tears on TV
The opera singer competed on the BBC programme with Katya Jones last year
Wynne Evans fought back tears on live TV and said he's 'not a victim' as he revealed the toll his Strictly Come Dancing scandal had on him.
The 53-year-old opera singer took part in in last year's Strictly Come Dancing series alongside professional partner, Katya Jones. The pair were eliminated during the Blackpool special just weeks before the grand final.
Following comedian Chris McCausland and dancer Dianne Buswell’s win, many members of the show’s cast embarked on the Strictly live tour.
Wynne and Katya were part of the tour’s original line-up, but Wynne confirmed just 11 days in that he was taking a step back from his work commitments.
It was revealed that he came under fire for making an alleged 'inappropriate remark' to Janette Manrara during a Strictly photo-call which he claimed was directed to co-star and EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick.
Wynne revealed last month that he would not be returning to his show with BBC Radio Wales after his contract wasn't renewed.
Appearing on Wednesday’s (June 11) of This Morning, Wynne spoke to presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard in his first TV interview since the scandal about how it affected his mental health.
“I totally understand that and I apologise. I don’t want to sit here today coming across as a victim because I’m not. I totally understand why people were upset and I get it. I’m naïve if I’m anything,” he said.
Wynne went on to say that the press interest in Strictly ‘is a juggernaut’ and claimed the BBC aren’t ‘quite in control of that press element’.
“Those little things you do in the spur of the moment and think is funny and it’s not funny. You don’t think it through because your mind doesn’t work in that way,” he told Cat and Ben.
Saying that he’s ‘had clinical depression since 2016’, Wynne is hoping ‘other people find strength’ from his honesty.
He recalled: “It took me into the darkest spot of my life. When the headlines keep coming and coming… I was at my lowest and wanted to end my life. I would have if I hadn’t been surrounded by people…
“I remember saying ‘I have to kill myself’... the same people who were writing ‘be kind’ a few years ago are still relentlessly going after you. That is exhausting. You can’t sleep, you can’t do anything. You follow these thoughts and it takes over your entire life."
Under a crisis team for a month where they ‘look after you the whole time’, Wynne praised his loved ones for their support.
“My friends, family and girlfriend did a rota that could be with me 24 hours a day sitting up with me because it was so relentless. I said to my daughter ‘I’m sorry I’ve brought shame to the family’.
“Even though I didn’t do what they said I did, I still brought all these headlines. She said ‘I know you, you’re a kind person and I want you to know that I know’. They’ve been utterly brilliant and my girlfriend’s been fantastic,” he said.
Wynne continued: “Sometimes I fear it's lip service that’s given [on mental health]. We’ve become brilliant with equality and open access… but mental health is still a really grey area… You need to look after these people with mental health issues. In the flip of a light switch the lights can go off.”