BBC bosses are standing by the Strictly star who has been accused of using cocaine by embittered Wynne Evans.
The unnamed member of the show, who is said to be ‘living a life of torment’ since the allegations, has been handed a central role in this year’s series, despite an external investigation being launched by the Corporation in July.
One insider said: ‘The BBC are fed up with Wynne causing trouble for their beloved Strictly and they have shown huge loyalty to this person by standing by him and making sure they are very much involved in this year’s show.’
It comes after the Daily Mail’s Katie Hind was told that ‘an immense amount of pressure’ had been put on the BBC to oust the star from the popular dance show.
Although no arrests have yet been made, the police confirmed they are investigating allegations of drug abuse relating to the flagship Saturday night family show.
Last month, The Sun reported that it was Wynne Evans who made a legal submission to the BBC about alleged drug use in March this year via his law firm Russells.
Evans, 53, who made his name in the Go Compare TV insurance advertisements, was axed by the BBC in May after The Mail on Sunday exclusively called him out for making an abhorrent ‘spit roast’ comment about professional dancer Janette Manrara, at the launch of the Strictly Come Dancing live tour.
Despite making an effusive apology for ‘inappropriate and unacceptable’ comments, his career was left in tatters.
Evans, who now hosts a radio show on his own website, has also said on air that he made the BBC’s director general Tim Davie aware that illegal activities had taken place on the show.
‘Wynne is trying to ruin our wonderful, wonderful show,’ said one high-ranking BBC insider. ‘He didn’t get his contract renewed so now he is trying to throw mud at Strictly; it feels like an act of revenge.
‘Of course, cocaine is illegal and, of course, it shouldn’t be part of the show, but quite why Wynne is pushing this is bizarre.
‘He was given an amazing opportunity to take part in the programme, it must have also brought him so much joy, but now he is trying to make Strictly all grubby as he seems determined to get his revenge on the BBC. It’s horrible.
‘The new season is about to start and with every year we hope for a fresh start, but now there is going to be a dark cloud hanging over Strictly 2025, especially for the person accused, but we won’t let him spoil it for others, no way.
‘But it is like he’s on a one-man crusade to tarnish the BBC.’
The next instalment of the dancing show begins next month on BBC, with the likes of Doctor Who actress Alex Kingston, Love Island’s Dani Dyer, Gladiator star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope taking part.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman told the Daily Mail: ‘On August 12, we received an allegation about drug-related offences. We are assessing the information and further inquiries are taking place to establish whether there is evidence of a criminal offence.’
That came two weeks after the BBC brought in external lawyers, Pinsent Masons, to examine claims that two Strictly stars had abused cocaine.’
