Strictly: Katya Jones issues statement defending Wynne Evans
Strictly Come Dancing's Wynne Evans and Katya Jones have been under fire following a couple of controversial 'in-jokes' that didn't quite land with the audience - and now they're facing a fresh blow.
The pair went viral for all the wrong reasons after last weekend's show, leading them to issue apologies. Footage circulated on social media, showing Katya seems to snub Wynne's attempt at a 'high five' and another instance when she appears to brush away his hand from her waist.
In an emotional admission on Radio Wales, Welsh opera star Wynne conveyed that he's "heartbroken" by the backlash received from what he termed a "misjudged" gag between himself and his professional dance partner.
Going into week five's live performance, the odds seem stacked against them, as latest odds suggest they might now face elimination. Initially seen as an outsider with odds of 20/1 from BetMGM, Wynne has had his odds slashed to just 9/2, making him the hot pick for this Sunday's potential departure.
Notably, this comes merely a week after Wynne was speculated to possibly emulate the success of former champion Hamza Yassin, who unexpectedly soared to victory and claimed the Glitterball, reports Wales Online.
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Body language expert Darren Stanton, giving insights to Betfair Slingo, predicted that Wynne stood a great shot at taking home the crown due to his distinct edge as a competitor.
"Wynne is a strong contender when it comes to winning the competition. He has something different to offer out of everyone else. You'll notice when he's receiving feedback, he actively listens, takes everything on board and wants to learn from it," Stanton shared in his commentary.
"He reminds me of Hamza Yassin. No one expected him to win in the beginning, he was overlooked - but he was so passionate about learning and developing his skills. He's thrown himself into the process wholeheartedly and is giving everything his best shot."
Meanwhile, Paul Merson is tipped once more as likely to be the next celebrity leaving Strictly, with odds at 10/11, while Punam Krishan, trailing last weeks leaderboard, stands at 13/4.
BetMGM's UK Director Sam Behar remarked: "Paul Merson might be the favourite to leave Strictly this weekend but Wynne Evans certainly isn't without a chance of leaving.
"He looked a lively outsider a couple of weeks ago in the outright betting but the news this week certainly hasn't helped his chances and he's been very well-backed to exit on Sunday night.
"He opened up at 20/1 but is now just 9/2, with only Paul Merson (10/11) and Punam Krishan (13/4) shorter in the next elimination betting."
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday on BBC One and is on BBC iPlayer
