Strictly Come Dancing's Wynne Evans reveals life in a 'sad house' after divorce

Opera and Strictly Come Dancing star Wynne Evans, who is best known as the face of Go Compare, has opened up about his home life after moving into his "sad" Cardiff house after his divorce

Strictly Come Dancing's Wynne Evans has spoken out about the difficult times he faced after relocating to a "sad house" which had "no glass in the windows" post-divorce.

Eight years ago, following a split from his wife Tanwen after 16 years of marriage, 52 year old Wynne purchased a derelict property in Cardiff. The BBC Radio Wales presenter shared that leaving their family home wasn't what he desired, having lived there with their two children.

After parting ways, the opera singer made a hesitant offer on a neglected home which he confesses was "terrible" and dilapidated at the time of purchase.

During an appearance on The Starting Line podcast with Rich Leigh, Wynne recalled: "It was a really sad house, because it was derelict, and I moved here after a divorce. I didn't want to move here, I wanted to stay married."

He reflected on the melancholic atmosphere of his new abode, saying: "So I bought it and it just became sad. It was a sad place," reports Wales Online.

Wynne and his professional dance partner Katya Jones found themselves at the centre of a new Strictly storm this weekend over an awkward hand incident.

The opera singer slid his hand around the dancer's waist, which she then pushed away. The video quickly went viral on social media.

A second clip of the pair then showed Evans trying to high-five his partner before seemingly getting rejected.

Evans wrote on social media: "We were just messing around. We really are amazing friends.

The dancer also backed up her partner, writing: "Now, I need to make something crystal clear. The hand incident that happened on Saturday night was an inside - a very, silly, very silly - inside joke between Wynne and I.

"So even the idea that it made me feel uncomfortable or offended me in any way is complete nonsense.

"It's quite absurd actually. Now, can we just focus on how brilliantly he's doing and what an amazing dancer he's becoming?"

The welfare team checked in with the pair but it is understood no further action is planned.

Commencing life in his new home was rough for Wynne, with an immediate mishap involving the central heating system "blowing up". The sparse environment also resulted in his children having to sleep in tents within their rooms when staying over.

Ensuring his children's comfort was Wynne's first concern, leading him to set his own bed aside, instead using his late parents' bed he had kept from Carmarthen.

He said: "I got the kids bedrooms ready first and I had to get new heating put in. And I was living in a bedroom, bearing in mind I'm presenting everyday on Radio Wales, I was doing GoCompare, I was doing all these things and people thought I was successful but I was living in a bedroom with no windows, with no glass in them.

"It was boarded up because all of the windows had gone. I came to see the house and it was the size I wanted and it's what I could afford.

"I said to the estate agent, 'this is not for me this house, this house is definitely not for me'. The house was an absolute tip, the garden was beautiful, I don't know what the guy was doing here before. It was just terrible".

Wynne eventually warmed to the property's charm, remarking on its "a lot of original architecture" and describing the doors and ceilings as the most "amazing". What sealed the deal was a peculiar find in the garden.

Wynne reminisced: "My mother, for some reason, since I was about seven, and I still can't quite work this one out, for Christmas every year would get me a Drambuie. And I love Drambuie now as a result.

"I went into the garden, turned round, and there was a line of Drambuie bottles against the wall. And that's why I bought it."

Since acquiring the house, Wynne has completely transformed the detached period property, stamping each room with his personal flair, adorning them with belongings he cherishes and that hold significance to him.

Wynne's tireless efforts have transformed the once "sad" property into his ideal home, with each room boasting its own distinct character.

He told WalesOnline: "I've got quite a strange taste I guess quite a flamboyant taste. My bedroom I suppose is kind of out there I've got a picture of John Inman and Mrs Slocombe from the TV show Are You Being Served? in pop art above my bed with a retro neon pink Welsh blanket on the bed and bright yellow walls. It's very eclectic and very different."

Wynne and Katya made it through to next week on Strictly Come Dancing after dancing the tango to Abba's Money, Money, Money during Saturday night's show, scoring 34 points.