Strictly's Wynne and Katya assure fans their 'friendship is strong'

Strictly Come Dancing's Wynne Evans and Katya Jones assured fans their 'friendship was stronger than ever' as they returned to rehearsals on Monday after making it through to week eight. 

It comes following judge Anton Du Beke leaving viewers cringing during Saturday's show when he made a comment about the opera singer's 'spacial awareness'  following his now viral 'wandering hand' incident. 

Wynne, 52, and Katya, 35, have been embroiled in controversy in recent weeks after the toe-curling moment saw the dancer move his hand away from her waist and snub his high five, before claiming it was an inside joke.

As well as snaps from rehearsals, Katya also posted behind the scenes photos from the weekend's show as they joked around and cuddled fellow stars Jamie Borthwick and Kai Widdrington.

Writing:  'There was a lot of hugging. We did it! THANK YOU so much! I can’t tell you how grateful we are for this gift of another week of dancing'.

'Boys are still together. And that makes me really happy too. The competition is tougher. Tiredness is real. But friendships and gratitude are stronger than ever'

'Week 8 can you believe it?'.

Following their latest performance, a Rhumba for icons week, Anton, 58, shared his feedback which included advice about Wynne's 'spacial awareness' to partner Katya.

Gushing over the routine, which also included the opera singer belting out a tune, the judge said: 'The best ending to any number I've ever seen in my entire life. Unbelievable'.

He went on to say: 'I want you to be aware of your spacial awareness to your partner you get either a bit too close to her or a bit too far away from her, but apart from that I want you to carry on as you are as your technique is looking marvellous'.

Racing to X fans said: '"You get a bit too close to her" Awkward Anton, AWKWARD!': 'Anton to Wynne "I want to make you aware of your spacial awareness to your partner"': 'Anton... most unfortunate comment ever about Wynne's spacial awareness on relation to his partner'. 

The couple scored an impressive 30 out of 40 for the routine which saw them land seventh on the leaderboard. 

Katya has defended Wynne declaring he has been 'portrayed as someone he is not', as the pair insist his 'wandering hand' incident was a silly joke.

Appearing on spin-off series It Takes Two, Wynne admitted he had watched the footage of the incident back and confessed: 'I can see how people may have misinterpreted it.'

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Strictly's Wynne Evans embroiled in further controversy as 'vulgar joke he made behind-the-scenes is leaked' -amid 'wandering hand' incident

Clinging to his arm, Katya said she 'can't bear' the flack her co-star is getting and was empathetic that there was no wrongdoing.

She said: 'The idea that it made me feel uncomfortable or offended in any way is total nonsense, and those that have doubts, you guys have got it wrong. So hopefully this will be the end of it, and you just keep making me smile.'

She added: 'I can't sit here watching this man being portrayed as someone he's not. In fact, it couldn't be further away from the truth.

'So I have to make this absolutely clear that this whole incident, with the hand and the high five on Saturday night, was an inside joke between Wynne and I. Was it a silly joke? Yes, was it a bad joke? Yes.'

However Wynne later found himself in further controversy after a 'vulgar' joke he reportedly made behind-the-scenes has been 'leaked'.

The opera singer is reported to have quipped that his double chin resembled female genitalia as he got his make-up done backstage.

Insiders claim that Wynne made the unsavory joke ahead of the BBC contest's glitzy launch show and was said in a private conversation with a make-up artist.

A source told The Mirror: 'It was a bit of a vulgar dad joke.'

The publication states that at least one other person was in the room at the time, adding that the make-up artist was not offended by Wynne's joke.

It is said that while formal complaints were made, staff members were not amused.

The insider went on to add: 'Wynne clearly didn't mean any offence, but you have to be a little bit careful these days.' 

A friend of Wynne's is said to have claimed that Wynne's cheeky comment was 'a slice of self-deprecation' and said confidentially to the make-up artist while others were present. 

MailOnline have contacted representatives of Strictly and Wynne for comment.  

BIG BROTHER 2024: MEET THE CONTESTANTS!

EMMA 

AGE : 53

FROM: Altrincham, originally Essex

OCCUPATION: Aesthetics Business owner 

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO GET NOMINATED FOR?  If somebody doesn’t get my humour then they might think ‘she’s really abrupt and to the point and says it how it is’ but that’s my humour.

ROSIE 

AGE: 29

FROM: Cornwall (originally Essex)

OCCUPATION: Dental Assistant 

DO YOU HAVE A STRATEGY FOR MAKING IT TO THE FINAL? No! I think it’s about being your most authentic self. The viewers aren’t dumb - they can sniff out manufactured drama.

NATHAN 

AGE: 24

FROM: Dumfries

OCCUPATION: Pork Salesman and King Charles' former butler

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO GET NOMINATED FOR?  Accidentally offending someone – someone taking something I’ve said the wrong way. Not a terrible offence, but if someone takes something I said the wrong way.

SEGUN 

AGE: 25

FROM: Watford

OCCUPATION: Charity Videographer

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL BRING TO THE HOUSE?  I think I’ll bring energy, comedic energy, vitality and a lot of entertainment and being uplifting.

DAZE 

AGE: 24

FROM: London

OCCUPATION: Climate Activist

WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH THE MONEY IF YOU WON? It’s been a difficult financial period for me – climate activism is quite often something you do in debt. It would be nice to have money to do the work 

KHALED

AGE: 23

FROM: Manchester

OCCUPATION: Sales Manager

WHY DID YOU APPLY TO BE ON THIS NEW SERIES OF BIG BROTHER? I didn’t actually know what Big Brother was.  I thought it’s a new opportunity in life. I have no interest in being famous.

MARTHA 

AGE: 26

FROM: Scarborough, originally from Margate

OCCUPATION: NHS Administrator

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MOST ABOUT BEING A HOUSEMATE? Definitely sitting on the Diary Room chair. That is a bucket list ticked off. Also just experiencing that isolation. I’m going to really enjoy not having my phone. I just love not having that responsibility.

LILY 

AGE: 20

FROM: Warrington

OCCUPATION: Chinese Takeaway Server

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO GET NOMINATED FOR? Probably that I’m annoying but I don’t care.

ALI 

AGE: 38

FROM: London

OCCUPATION: Forensic Psychologist

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MOST ABOUT BEING A HOUSEMATE? Just being away and thrown into a totally new environment, completely different to anything I’ve done before, completely different to anything I’ll ever do in the future.

THOMAS 

AGE: 20

FROM: Carlisle

OCCUPATION: Amputee Footballer

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO GET NOMINATED FOR? One of my bad traits is that I speak a lot. I do a lot of talking without thinking. In myself I never get offended, you can say anything about me - I’ve already heard it before.

RYAN 

AGE: 28

FROM: Stockport 

OCCUPATION: Marketing and Events

WHY DID YOU APPLY TO BE ON THIS NEW SERIES OF BIG BROTHER? I’ve always been a fan of the show - it’s been a bit of a childhood dream to go on it.

HANAH 

AGE: 24

FROM: West London

OCCUPATION: HR Consultant

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO GET NOMINATED FOR? I feel like whoever nominates is just a hater, babes! I think it might be my opinions that people nominate me for.

IZAAZ

AGE: 29

FROM: London, originally Swansea

OCCUPATION: Sales Consultant

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL BRING TO THE HOUSE? I’ll bring a lot of happiness and kindness. I reckon I’ll be there for a lot of people. I’m not the type of person to fall out with anyone and if I did, I’d make up for it.

SARAH 

AGE: 27

FROM: Shrewsbury

OCCUPATION: Spa Account Manager

WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH THE MONEY IF YOU WON? A few different things. One, I’d have my dream wedding. Two, go on a nice holiday. And three, maybe start my own business.

MARCELLO

AGE: 34

FROM: East London

OCCUPATION: Youth Mentor

DO YOU HAVE A STRATEGY FOR MAKING IT TO THE FINAL? Not at all. I’m going to show love, I’m going to be myself and that’s all I can do. 

DEAN 

AGE: 35

FROM: East London

OCCUPATION: Barber

WHY DID YOU APPLY TO BE ON THIS NEW SERIES OF BIG BROTHER? I’ve been a fan for the longest time. I’ve wanted to do it from the age of 11 and never had the confidence to do it. As I got older, I was still obsessed with the show and as soon as it came back it was ‘this is my time to apply’.