Former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Wynne Evans appeared on a BBC show over the weekend despite his apparent departure from the corporation earlier this year
Former Strictly Come Dancing star Wynne Evans made an unexpected appearance on a BBC show tonight. It comes after the corporation said it had “no plans” to work with him following his exit from the live tour and his radio show.
Wynne, 53, however, appeared on an episode of Pointless Celebrities that aired on BBC One earlier tonight. He was paired up with Joanna Page, who was his co-star on Wynne & Joanna: All at Sea, which isn’t set to have a second series as the BBC said in June that it has “no plans” to renew it.
It comes following his apparent departure from the BBC earlier this year. It had been reported that it had severed ties with the opera singer, known for the Go Compare adverts, and had confirmed that it didn’t plan to work with him further.
Wynne Evans and Joanna Page competed as a team on an episode of Pointless Celebrities that aired on BBC One on Saturday night(Image: BBC)
The pre-recorded episode of Pointless Celebrities that aired tonight saw Wynne and Joanna make it to the penultimate round, but they missed out on reaching the final together. The other team, Jane Hill and Ben Boulos, who both work on BBC News, became the finalists instead after winning the round.
They had competed against two other pairs earlier in the episode. RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner Danny Beard had been with impressionist Jess Robinson, whilst comedians Esther Manito and Rich Hall had worked together.
Prior to the episode airing tonight, Wynne had told fans on Instagram that he would be in it. He wrote beside a photo of himself and Joanna on the set: “Tonight back on [BBC One] for Celebrity Pointless with [Joanna].”
Some viewers seemed surprised to see Wynne on the show this evening. One wrote on X: “Wynne Evans? This must have been recorded 10 years ago?” Another said: “Seriously??? Who the hell thought Wynne Evans appearing would be a good idea.” A third wrote on the platform though: “Well done [BBC] – Wynne on Pointless – common sense at last.”
It’s not been confirmed when the episode was filmed. One viewer suggested it could mark Wynne’s final appearance on the BBC though. They wrote in a post on X earlier tonight: “This could be Wynne Evans’s last BBC appearance.”
The airing of the pre-recorded episode comes following Wynne’s apparent departure from the BBC earlier this year(Image: BBC)
The episode’s broadcast this weekend comes after the BBC was said to have cut its last remaining ties with Wynne. He had worked with the corporation for years, including hosting his own BBC Radio show for almost a decade.
it was announced back in May that the BBC had “no plans” to work with him in the future though. It comes following a series of scandals during his time on Strictly Come Dancing last year and its subsequent tour earlier this year.
During the tour, it was reported that he had used the term ‘spit roast’ to host Janette Manrara at a photocall. Wynne has, however, since insisted that it was instead part of a nickname for fellow contestant Jamie Borthwick and that it “wasn’t meant sexually”.
Wynne subsequently left the tour and his BBC Radio Wales show after the scandal broke back in January. It was said at the time that the decision had been made in agreement with the BBC and to “prioritise” Wynne’s wellbeing.
It was then announced in May that Wynne would not be returning to his radio show, which he had hosted since 2016. In a statement at the time, a spokesperson for the BBC said: “[Wynne] is not under contract with the BBC. He is not returning to the mid-morning show on BBC Radio Wales, and there are currently no plans to work with him.”
Whilst Wynne, who has since criticised the BBC, told fans in a statement: “It breaks my heart to say the BBC has decided not to renew my contract, so I won’t be returning to my radio show. I’m gutted. That show wasn’t just work – it was home. It was us. We laughed, we cried, we sang like nobody was listening. And somehow, through the airwaves, we became a family. Thank you for welcoming me into your homes. Into your hearts.”
He instead announced that he would host the Wynne Evans Show on other platforms. He’s since launched his new weekday radio and later told his followers on social media that he had more than 40,000 listeners for the first episode.
More recently, it was reported in June that the BBC had cut its last remaining ties with him. It was confirmed at the time that the corporation had “no plans” for a second series of his travel show Wynne & Joanna: All at Sea, which ran for six episodes between January and February.
A source had told the Sun that the decision to not renew it “marks the end” of a relationship between Wynne and the BBC. They said: “It means that Wynne has no TV show or radio show with the Beeb, and effectively marks the end of their relationship.”
Pointless Celebrities is available on BBC iPlayer.
BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty was left reeling as she aired warning and shared a major pet peeve
Kelly Smith Screen Time Reporter
09:08, 12 Jul 2025
BBC Breakfast’s Naga Munchetty couldn’t contain her irritation discussing the recent spike in water bills, as she spoke out on what she perceives as unnecessary wastage.
On the Saturday episode (July 12), Naga and fellow presenter Charlie Stayt welcomed Andy White from the Consumer Council for Water to chat about homeowners possibly switching to smart meters, with the promise that it could lead to significant financial advantages for some.
The water guru impressed on audiences that households with more bedrooms than occupants could find themselves a bit richer by opting for a smart meter, though he cautioned that there’s quite a backlog, and the transition wouldn’t be immediate.
While Andy was optimistic about the potential savings from exploring smart meter options with water providers, Naga shared her own opinion aimed at viewers who might be squandering water.
Andy mentioned that some individuals were now taking shorter showers to cut costs on both water and electricity. This prompted Naga to interject with a robust piece of advice, reports the Express.
Naga fumed ‘it winds me up no end’(Image: BBC breakfast)
She didn’t mince her words, telling fans: “And don’t leave the tap running when you’re brushing your teeth,” which Andy supported with a firm “Absolutely,” as Naga further added: “It winds me up no end when people do that.”
“It’s pointless,” agreed Andy, to which Naga echoed: “Pointless,” before expressing gratitude towards him for his insights.
On the programme, the conversation shifted to dire warnings about “extreme wildfires in Scotland“. Charlie introduced the topic: “An extreme wildfire warning is in place across Scotland as temperatures continue to soar this weekend.”
Andy appeared on the programme to discuss how water savings could be made(Image: BBC)
Naga elaborated on the situation: “The Scottish fire and rescue team is urging people to be cautious after tackling multiple incidents over the last few weeks.”
The presenter emphasised the need for extra caution in Scotland, adding: “Including large wildfires that burned over four days in the north of Scotland. No one was injured but a large area of countryside has been badly affected.”
Naga couldn’t hide her thoughts and feelings(Image: BBC Breakfast)
Garry Mackay from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service appeared via video link to give a live update. He described the “unusual” conditions in Scotland, with high temperatures, strong winds, and no rain.
He informed viewers about the “significant” wildfires his teams had recently battled in rural areas, which he said were a “drain on their resources” and posed a “challenge” for the firefighters.
With the forecast predicting even hotter weather over the weekend, he called for the public and communities to remain alert and extremely careful with anything involving a “naked flame”, including “cigarette ends and having open fires”.
BBC Breakfast is broadcast daily on BBC One, starting at 6am.
Cape Town, South Africa – Five months ago, with a single social media post, United States President Donald Trump put half a million people in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) at risk when he announced the closure of USAID – the single biggest aid donor in the country.
A few days ago in Washington, DC, the same administration claimed credit for extricating the Congolese people from a decades-long conflict often described as the deadliest since World War II. This year alone, thousands of people have died and hundreds of thousands have been displaced.
While the White House may be celebrating its diplomatic triumph in brokering a peace deal between tense neighbours DRC and Rwanda, for sceptical observers and people caught up in conflict and deprivation in eastern DRC, the mood is bound to be far more muted, experts say.
“I think a lot of ordinary citizens are hardly moved by the deal and many will wait to see if there are any positives to come out of it,” said Michael Odhiambo, a peace expert for Eirene International in Uvira in eastern DRC, where 250,000 displaced people lost access to water due to Trump’s aid cutbacks.
Odhiambo suggests that for Congolese living in towns controlled by armed groups – like the mineral-rich area of Rubaya, held by M23 rebels – US involvement in the war may cause anxiety, rather than relief.
“There is fear that American peace may be enforced violently as we have seen in Iran. Many citizens simply want peace and even though [this is] dressed up as a peace agreement, there is fear it may lead to future violence that could be justified by America protecting its business interests.”
The agreement, signed by the Congolese and Rwandan foreign ministers in Washington on Friday, is an attempt to staunch the bleeding in a conflict that has raged in one form or another since the 1990s.
At the signing, Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe called it a “turning point”, while his Congolese counterpart, Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, said the moment had “been long in coming”.
“It will not erase the pain, but it can begin to restore what conflict has robbed many women, men and children of – safety, dignity and a sense of future,” Wagner said.
Trump has meanwhile said he deserves to be lauded for bringing the parties together, even suggesting that he deserves a Nobel prize for his efforts.
While the deal does aim to quell decades of brutal conflict, observers point to concerns with the fine print: That it was also brokered after Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi said in March that he was willing to partner with the US on a minerals-for-security deal.
Experts say US companies hope to gain access to minerals like tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper and lithium that they desperately need to meet the demand for technology and beat China in the race for Africa’s natural resources.
But this has raised fears among critics that the US’s main interest in the agreement is to further foreign extraction of eastern DRC’s rare earth minerals, which could lead to a replay of the violence seen in past decades, instead of a de-escalation.
M23 and FDLR: Will armed groups fall in line?
The main terms of the peace deal – which is also supported by Qatar – require Kinshasa and Kigali to establish a regional economic integration framework within 90 days and form a joint security coordination mechanism within 30 days. Additionally, the DRC should facilitate the disengagement of the armed group, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), after which Rwanda will lift its “defensive measures” inside the DRC.
According to the United Nations and other international rights groups, there are about 3,000 to 4,000 Rwandan troops on the ground in eastern DRC, as Kigali actively backs M23 rebels who have seized key cities in the region this year. Rwanda has repeatedly denied these claims.
M23 is central to the current conflict in eastern DRC. The rebel group, which first took up arms in 2012, was temporarily defeated in 2013 before it reemerged in 2022. This year, it made significant gains, seizing control of the capitals of both North Kivu and South Kivu provinces in January and February.
Although separate Qatar-led mediation efforts are under way regarding the conflict with M23, the rebel group is not part of this agreement signed last week.
“This deal does not concern M23. M23 is a Congolese issue that is going to be discussed in Doha, Qatar. This is a deal between Rwanda and DRC,” Gatete Nyiringabo Ruhumuliza, a Rwandan political commentator, told Al Jazeera’s Inside Story, explaining that the priority for Kigali is the neutralisation of the FDLR – which was established by Hutus linked to the killings of Tutsis in the 1994 Rwanda genocide.
“Rwanda has its own defensive mechanisms [in DRC] that have nothing to do with M23,” Ruhumuliza said, adding that Kigali will remove these mechanisms only once the FDLR is dealt with.
But the omission of M23 from the US-brokered process points to one of the potential cracks in the deal, experts say.
“The impact of the agreement may be more severe on the FDLR as it explicitly requires that it ceases to exist,” said Eirene International’s Odhiambo. “The M23, however, is in a stronger position given the leverage they have from controlling Goma and Bukavu and the income they are generating in the process.”
The US-brokered process requires the countries to support ongoing efforts by Qatar to mediate peace between the DRC and M23. But by including this, the deal also “seems to temper its expectations regarding the M23″, Odhiambo argues.
Additionally, “M23 have the capacity to continue to cause mayhem even if Rwanda decided to act against it,” he said. “Therefore, I think the agreement will not in itself have a major impact on the M23.”
In terms of the current deal’s effect on the two countries, both risk being exposed for their role in the conflict, he added.
“I think that if Rwanda manages to prevail on the M23 as anticipated by the deal, it may prove the long-suspected proxy relationship between them.”
For DRC, he said Kinshasa executing the terms of the agreement will not augur well for the FDLR, but suggested calls to neutralise them may be a tall order.
“If [Kinshasa] manage to do it, then they remove Rwanda’s justification for its activities in the DRC. But to do so may be a big ask given the capacity of the FARDC [DRC military], and failure to do so will feed into the narrative of a dysfunctional and incapable state. Therefore, I think the DRC has more at stake than Rwanda.”
On the other hand, Tshisekedi’s government could score political points, according to Jakob Kerstan, DRC country director for the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Foundation (KAS), which promotes democracy and the rule of law.
“The sentiment … of the Congolese population, it’s very much like the conflict has been left behind: No one really cares in the world; the Congo is only being exploited, and so on. And the fact that there is now a global power caring about the DRC … I think this is a gain,” he said.
He feels there is also less pressure on Kinshasa’s government today than earlier this year when M23 was first making its rapid advance. “There are no protests any more. Of course, people are angry about the situation [in the east], but they kind of accept [it]. And they know that militarily they won’t be able to win it. The Kinshasa government, they know it as well.”
M23 rebels in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo [Hugh Kinsella Cunningham/Getty Images]
‘Peace for exploitation’?
Although Kinshasa appears to have readily offered the US access to the country’s critical minerals in exchange for security, many observers on the continent find such a deal concerning.
Congolese analyst Kambale Musavuli told Africa Now Radio that reports of the possible allocation of billions of dollars worth of minerals to the US, was the “Berlin Conference 2.0″, referring to the 19th-century meeting during which European powers divided up Africa. Musavuli also bemoaned the lack of accountability for human rights abuses.
Meanwhile, Congolese Nobel laureate Denis Mukwege called the agreement a “scandalous surrender of sovereignty” that validated foreign occupation, exploitation, and decades of impunity.
An unsettling undertone of the deal is “the spectre of resource exploitation, camouflaged as diplomatic triumph”, said political commentator Lindani Zungu, writing in an op-ed for Al Jazeera. “This emerging ‘peace for exploitation’ bargain is one that African nations, particularly the DRC, should never be forced to accept in a postcolonial world order.”
Meanwhile, for others, the US may be the ones who end up with a raw deal.
KAS’s Kerstan believes Trump’s people may have underestimated the complexities of doing business in the DRC – which has scared off many foreign companies in the past.
Even those who welcome this avenue towards peace acknowledge that the situation remains fragile.
Alexandria Maloney, a senior fellow with the Atlantic Council’s US-based Africa Center, praised the Trump deal for combining diplomacy, development and strategic resource management. However, she warned against extraction without investment in infrastructure, skills and environmental safeguards. “Fragile governance structures in eastern DRC, particularly weak institutional capacity and fragmented local authority, could undercut enforcement or public trust,” Maloney told the think tank’s website.
Furthermore, China’s “entrenched footprint in the DRC’s mining sector may complicate implementation and heighten geopolitical tensions”, she added.
For analysts, the most optimistic assessments about the US’s role in this process appear to say: Thank goodness the Americans stepped in; while the least optimistic say: Are they in over their heads?
Overall, this Congo peace agreement seems to have few supporters outside multilateral diplomatic fora such as the UN and the African Union.
For many, the biggest caution is the exclusion of Congolese people and civil society organisations – which is where previous peace efforts have also failed.
“I have no hopes at all [in this deal],” said Vava Tampa, the founder of grassroots Congolese antiwar charity Save the Congo. “There isn’t much difference between this deal and the dozens of other deals that have been made in the past,” he told Al Jazeera’s Inside Story.
“This deal does two things really: It denies Congolese people – Congolese victims and survivors – justice; and simultaneously it also fuels impunity,” he said, calling instead for an international criminal tribunal for Congo and for perpetrators of violence in both Kigali and Kinshasa to be held accountable.
“Peace begins with justice,” Tampa said. “You cannot have peace or stability without justice.”
