Five questions BBC haven't answered on Wynne Evans and Katya Jones' Strictly incident

Strictly Come Dancing professional Katya Jones and her celebrity partner Wynne Evans have found themselves in the centre of a social media storm following their latest appearance on the show. During Saturday’s showcase (October 12) a suspect incident took place between the pair while live in the BBC Studios green room.

Following their successful 34-point Tango, Katya, 35, and Wynne, 52, were joined backstage by their fellow Strictly competitors. While co-host Claudia Winkleman was holding court, it appeared the opera singer had snaked his hand around the Russian dancer’s waist.

During the on-camera moment, Katya seemingly peeled Wynne’s hand from her waist before apparently rejecting a high-five attempt. After their antics received backlash from viewers, the pair have admitted it was part of an “inside joke”.

Despite both Katya and Wynne releasing separate social media statements, the BBC has yet to publicly comment on the incident. Neither the broadcaster nor the professional couple has yet to divulge what the “stupid joke” was either - leaving die-hard fans with unanswered questions.

While the Welsh father-of-two has claimed he is “heartbroken” by the incident, Strictly followers are still questioning whether couples need to be physically intimate off the ballroom floor. Express.co.uk is diving into four more unanswered questions regarding the ‘hand incident’.

What was the joke?

Following the broadcast, Go Compare advert star Wynne has gone on record stating that he is “heartbroken” that the incident - billed as a “stupid joke” - had gone “wrong”.

"I'm absolutely heartbroken by the things that have been written about me in the last day,” he said during a recent broadcast on BBC Radio Wales.

"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 has been totally misinterpreted.”

Katya has also doubled down on the incident being a “joke”, saying as such during her appearance on Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two.

“I have to make this absolutely clear, that this whole incident with the hand and the high five on Saturday night, it was an inside joke between Wynne and I," she explained. "Was it a silly joke, yes, was it a bad joke, yes."

However, neither Katya nor Wynne has explained the contents of the “joke” and the BBC has yet to address it either.

Do couples really need to touch off the dance floor?

Wynne and Katia’s awkward on-screen moment has divided Strictly Come Dancing fans.

Many have questioned whether or not competing couples need to touch each other once they’ve completed their ballroom routine.

Taking to Reddit, one user complained: “I think there needs to be some guidance to stop people overstepping the line and to protect them.”

A second argued: “But what would the guidance be? No touching? Every celeb/pro should feel comfortable with their partner.

“That can extend to celebs requesting a Gorka [Marquez] over a Vito [Coppola] if they prefer someone who's less huggy. There are now dedicated welfare producers for both pros and celebs so hopefully any issues anyone has can be dealt with.”

“It’s not even just between dances, some of the couples on ITT over the years have looked VERY cosy despite being nowhere near the training room or dance floor,” commented a third.

This year, BBC introduced new welfare measures, including chaperones watching over contestants and professional dancers during their rehearsals.

The new team has also checked in with Wynne and Katya following their on-screen incident, with PA reporting that no further action is planned.

Does the BBC encourage contestants to physically touch?

The BBC has never stipulated that physically touching your partner on Strictly Come Dancing is a requirement.

However, celebrities such as Helen Skelton were aware that physical intimacy came part and parcel with the show upon signing up.

In 2022, the Countryfile favourite admitted she was concerned about touching her professional partner.

At the time, she said: “I’m not that touchy-feely, so I think the physical closeness I’ll need to have with my partner will take a bit of getting used to.”

Multi-platinum recording artist and fourth-place Strictly finisher Sophie Ellis-Bextor has previously complained about physical touch off the ballroom floor.

As reported by The Times, the 45-year-old said: “The dancers would chat about whatever choreography we were finding hard and then Brendan [Cole] would grab one of the female dancers to get her to demonstrate to me what I should be doing — he’d flip her around and she’d end up with her leg around his head or whatever.”

It’s stated that Sophie would try to explain to the 48-year-old that this “felt strange” to those residing outside the professional dance bubble.

Some viewers and experts have previously slammed the BBC for not setting boundaries with celebrity contestants, with a source reportedly saying: “Because [dance] is all leading and following, and they’ve been doing it since they were eight, the idea that you can just grab someone’s wrist is ingrained in them.

“And clearly, for some [dancers] what is completely unacceptable behaviour needed to have been spelled out.”

Was the broadcaster involved in their social media statements?

Following Wynne and Katya’s on-screen incident, the latter took to social media to clear the air.

The Russian dancer uploaded a video to Instagram, stating: "I need to make something crystal clear.

“The hand incident that happened on Saturday night was a very silly inside joke between Wynne and I. So even the idea that it made me feel uncomfortable or offended in any way is complete nonsense. It’s actually absurd.

"So let’s focus on how brilliantly Wynne Evans is doing and what an amazing dancer he’s becoming."

Wynne also took to his social media account and wrote: “Appologies for this tonight we were just messing around. We really are amazing friends. The high 5’s is a running joke. Have a great evening. (sic)

It is not known whether the BBC was involved in Wynne and his professional partner posting separate statements on social media.

Why did Katya react if she and Wynne are ‘really good friends’?

Fans were left stunned after witnessing a pair of “awkward” interactions between Wynne and Katya during last Saturday’s episode of Strictly Come Dancing.

In the green room, Wynne placed his hand on Katya’s waist. Seemingly visibly annoyed, the dancer swatted it away before apparently ignoring her partner’s attempt at a high five.

Instead, she appeared to turn to face the camera - prompting the opera singer to hold his head in his hands.

Despite the competing duo working to downplay the “uncomfortable incident” with their separate social media statements, questions have still been raised by fans regarding Katya’s reaction.

“If Katya doesn’t ‘laugh’ and ‘excuse’ Wynnes creepy behaviour, she will loose her job, receive a pile on from social media, all for calling out this man and his wandering hands. We’re not fooled by the smiles. Not one bit! And he doesn’t think he’s done anything wrong,” said one fan on X. (Sic)

A second typed: “Strictly - Katya despite what we saw Wyn doing on TV cannot describe it as an ‘in joke’. We saw what we saw, it's not a joking matter to women. I think the pair are terrified of being cancelled.”

Someone else has defended the pair, writing: “The fact Katya has explained more than once about this whole Strictly situation with Wynne is ridiculous. If she said the first time it's a joke, or it's nothing, no issues, then believe her.”