WYNNE Evans has put on his fighting trousers and is taking the BBC to task over his sudden sacking from the Strictly Come Dancing live tour.

With his professional career in tatters, and his mammoth Go Compare salary at stake, I’m not surprised the Welsh opera singer is so angry – because I know the real reason Wynne made that “spit-roast” remark…and there is nothing sinister about it.

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Instead, as well-informed insiders tell me the quip was in fact a nickname for a co-star, which was known to many of the professionals and celebrities taking part in the tour.

When Wynne uttered the fateful words that saw him get the boot, it certainly wasn’t the first time he’d used the phrase.

Which, when you look at it with knowledge, makes total sense as to why no complaint was made and why Janette Manrara – who was caught up in the debacle – couldn’t give a toss about it.

I’m told the phrase was widely remarked on and laughed at during the tour and became something that was regularly bandied about.

As most of the stars, and professionals, on Strictly say themselves – the people appearing on the BBC primetime show end up becoming like your family.

And so your guard comes down, and you jest and converse as you would with the people you trust the most.

Friends close to Wynne said he is incredibly upset that no one has come to his defence publicly in light of his dismissal from the show.

Who could blame him? This was a joke that was long-running and one that no one had ever shown objection to before.

Following the news of his sacking, I was informed by a well-placed insider that away from Strictly Wynne had also found himself in hot water over comments he believed were made in jest.

One pertained to his BBC Radio Wales show, the other during filming of his new BBC One series, All At Sea, with Joanna Page.

As I pressed the person about the nature of the issues raised, it became clear they all centred on Wynne’s “dad-humour”.

A friend of mine who knows the tenor told me: “Wynne loves to fill silences.

“He is a funny person by nature and when you are with him he will crack jokes left, right and centre.

“Some are on the knuckle but it’s nothing worse than anything any 50-something-year-old bloke would say.”

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As a reporter who has covered a number of stories where men in power in television abuse their positions, I believe I know a bad egg when I see one.

Was Wynne correct to crack wise in a work environment when he should have been more acutely aware of who may be listening? Absolutely not.

And the people who raised concerns about his language were totally right to flag those comments to their superiors.

But in the case of his sacking from Strictly, I say all power to Wynne for not backing down and pushing for recompense.

Wynne Evans’ Strictly scandals

‘Grope’

Wynne encountered a backlash after his Strictly pro partner Katya was filmed removing his hand from her waist.

Fans insisted she looked uncomfortable as she moved it away – but Katya later insisted there was no problem.

In joke

They then sparked further fury, when she was seen refusing to high-five the Opera singer.

The duo were quick to issue a video apology and insisted it was all an innocent “inside joke”.

Crude joke

Wynne came under fire for allegedly telling a “crude” joke to one of the show’s make-up artists.

Insiders claim the opera star made a joke that the folds of his double chin “looked like a vagina”.

A source said: “It was a bit of a vulgar dad joke.”

Vile comment

Wynne was recorded suggesting a three-way sex ­session with presenter Janette Manrara, using the term “spit roast”.

His remark came at a photocall to launch the Strictly live tour, which pro Janette, 41, is hosting.

He reportedly pulled a suggestive face at actor Jamie Borthwick as Janette moved between them — which is when Evans allegedly made the joke.

Wynne has apologised saying: “My language was inappropriate and unacceptable, for which I sincerely apologise.”

He made a joke, which absolutely no one raised a concern about, let alone a complaint, and he was jettisoned off the dancefloor so quickly his feet barely touched the ground.

To face facts, it was the court of public opinion that lost Wynne his part in the production.

Context is everything and without it, Wynne has been hung out to dry.

So much for the “family” on Strictly…