axing

TURN back the clock 12 months, and Wynne Evans’ life was falling apart.

Being axed by the BBC from his radio show last May appeared to be the final nail in the Welsh tenor’s career coffin after he was sacked from the Strictly Live Tour over accusations of an inappropriate sexual comment.

Devastated, Wynne, 54, told this newspaper of his anguish and despair at being made a “scapegoat” for yet another BBC scandal – confirming what was pushed as a “vile sexual remark” was actually a joke amongst his one-time friend Jamie Borthwick.

The apology issued at the time for the comment was, Wynne explained, written by the BBC and ultimately ended up being the metaphorical sword he would die on.

Friends furiously rushed to defend Wynne to The Sun, and today still pour scorn on soap actor Jamie for failing to defend Wynne when he knew the truth behind the comment.

Jamie, 31, was later sacked by EastEnders four months after Wynne was given the boot.

“It felt like karma,” one friend tells The Sun.

“Wynne was hung out to dry, and Jamie, who was at the centre of it all, said absolutely nothing. They both ended up losing everything.”

Suicidal, Wynne was kept afloat by his long-time fiancée, Liz Cooke, his two grown-up daughters, and a legion of friends – including Gavin And Stacey star Joanna Page and Strictly’s Aljaz Škorjanec and Janette Manrara – who kept tabs on him at his home in Carmarthen.

Broken but not beaten, friends explain Wynne has quietly rebuilt his life – and is slowly carving out a life away from the constrictions of his old BBC paymasters.

His property business, Wildvine Properties, friends say, is starting to take off – allowing Wynne to return to what he loves: performing.

“Wynne is made for radio, and his daily show, broadcast from a studio he built in his home, is doing really well.

“He started working on Radio Dragon last month, too, and his Sunday morning show has been really successful.

“His devoted following, who loved his BBC Radio Wales show, have all followed him there, and the audience research has shown Wynne is beyond loved.

“Last month, he was invited to sing at Wrexham FC too, and the reception was so warm, it was a massive boost for him.

“Quietly, Wynne has built up a property business, which includes a three-bed house in Llansteffan, which is hugely popular on Airbnb.

Wynne could have allowed the BBC to cancel him, but he refused to be cowed.

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“It’s given him a quiet income so he can focus on rebuilding and moving on with his life.

“Wynne was virtually destroyed by the BBC and hung out to dry. But he is proof that once the chips are down, you can turn things around.”

In a heart-wrenching interview with this newspaper in May last year, Wynne admitted that his jokes on Strictly, made between people he believed at the time were friends, were clumsy.

But there is no question that his actions were nothing more than ill-judged.

Wynne said: I realise now you cannot make jokes like that in the workplace – it’s deeply unprofessional.

“I’d be happy to go on any language and behavioural course that the BBC wants to send me on. I’d be thrilled to go on a course that could save me from situations like this.

“Society’s changing so quickly, and I’d be the first to say perhaps I’ve got it wrong on occasion. Unfortunately, I wasn’t offered a course like that.

“All I want now is to focus on performing and get back to my radio show – I can’t quite believe I’ve ended up here, and I just hope everyone can read this and know I’m not a bad guy.”

‘Wynne is a good man’

As he started to move forward with his life, friends explained that the support from his loyal fans, affectionately known as “Wynners”, is the people Wynne feels most grateful for.

“Wynne is a good man who has been through hell,” a pal says.

“The fans who have always supported him stood by him, and that means the world to him.”

Wynne’s personal company finances certainly show things are not as dark as they were this time last year.

The latest report for the firm shows Wynne is sitting on reserves of just over £670,000.

He has taken his time and slowly rebuilt his life. He was totally broken this time last year.His whole world had imploded, and at times he felt like he had nothing to live for.

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And pals explain Wynne is keen to continue carving out a new position for himself in the public domain – starting next with a series of four live shows.

The performances are billed as a mix of stand-up comedy and opera, and Wynne is looking forward to taking another step back into the limelight.

“Wynne could have allowed the BBC to cancel him, but he refused to be cowed,” a friend explains.

“He has taken his time and slowly rebuilt his life. He was totally broken this time last year.

“His whole world had imploded, and at times he felt like he had nothing to live for.

“Wynne took baby steps and got himself back on his feet. Now things are really moving in a positive direction, and the future is looking bright again.

“What happened last year is something that Wynne will never be able to forget, and really, he is still processing that.

“But he wants to show people that no matter how bad things get, no matter how many times your name is dragged through the mud, no matter how many people you thought were friends turn on you, with the love of your family and your friends, you can make it through.

“Wynne’s story is one of salvation, and he will be telling it with brutal honesty and humour.”