Wynne Evans BREAKS HIS SILENCE, presenting evidence that he was "forced" into the "groping" incident with his co-star: "It was X who compelled me to act that way..."

STRICTLY Come Dancing’s Wynne Evans has revealed his “heartbreak” over his live TV “grope” row.

The BBC star, who was seen with his hand around professional partner Katya Jones‘ waist during Saturday’s live show, said it was “a stupid joke that had gone wrong”.

a man in suspenders is dancing with a woman in a white dress

Strictly’s Wynne Evans has told of his ‘heartbreak’ over his ‘TV grope’ scandal

a group of people standing on a stage with one woman holding a microphone

The opera singer, 52, was seen with his hand creeping around professional partner Katya Jones’ waist

a group of people standing next to each other on a stage .

She was seen batting him away on live TV

a group of people are dancing and one of them has a pink shirt on

Katya then refused to high-five Wynne – sparking further feud speculation

It came after Katya, 35, was also seen refusing to high-five the Opera singer – sparking rumours of a fall-out.

After Strictly‘s Week Four wrapped, the duo – who had performed a Tango earlier in the night – were quick to issue a video apology and insisted it was all an innocent “inside joke”.

Now Wynne, 52, has taken to his BBC Radio Wales show for a further raw reveal.

He told his listeners today: “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, OK?

“We thought it was funny. It wasn’t funny.

“It was been totally misinterpreted.”

The Go Compare advert star then gushed over his “brilliant friendship” with the Russian and added: “Everything’s on Katya’s socials. She’s talked about it.”

Despite fans demanding the pair clarify exactly what “the joke” was, Wynne didn’t explain any further.

He said: “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 that’s all there is. There is no real story, really.”

PURE BANTS

Wynne was referring to the video Katya had uploaded to her social media pages this weekend.

The clip – posted shortly after the online chaos ensued – saw Katya tell fans: “Hi everyone, it’s Wynne and Katya here, we just wanted to say we were messing around in the clauditorium on Saturday night and we just want to say sorry.”

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Wynne Evans and Katya Jones

She added: “It was a silly joke.”

While Wynne echoed: “Yeah, sorry.”

Katya then hit back a second time in a another video upload.

On Sunday afternoon, Katya returned to Instagram with another message for her fans.

She said: “Happy Sunday everyone. Now, I need to make something crystal clear.

“The hand incident that happened on Sunday night was indeed a very silly inside joke.

“So even the idea that he made me feel uncomfortable or offended me in anyway is complete nonsense.

“It’s quite absurd actually.

“Now can we just focus on how brilliant he is doing and what an amazing dancer that he’s becoming.”

BAD TASTE?

The pair’s banter came after the BBC series was engulfed in a string of scandals – though there is no suggestion Katya and Wynne’s joke was inappropriate.

The findings of a probe into former Strictly professional Giovanni Pernice’s behaviour were published earlier this month.

The report upheld six out of 17 allegations against pro dancer Gio.

The BBC has now apologised to his former show partner, actress Amanda Abbington, over the programme’s bullying scandal.

It was claimed the corporation spent an eye-watering six-figure sum on the investigation.

Meanwhile, the same investigation also saw Giovanni’s fellow Italian pro Graziano Di Prima axed after allegations of “physical incidents” towards show partner Zara McDermott, 27.