How Wynne Evans the chubby opera singer from the Go Compare ads lost seven stone to be the surprise favourite to win Strictly

How Wynne Evans the chubby opera singer from the Go Compare ads lost seven stone to be the surprise favourite to win Strictly

As I delve deeper into this captivating narrative, I find myself deeply moved by Wynne Evans‘ journey. His story is one of resilience, struggle, and triumph – a testament to the human spirit’s ability to rise from the ashes.


In the world I inhabit, I’m recognized as the man with the mustache who graces the screens in those GoCompare commercials, always beaming and crooning in a deep operatic tone.

But for Wynne Evans, looking in the mirror has not always been easy.

At his heaviest, he tipped the scales at 24 stone, and he wasn’t pleased with how he looked. However, in the last year alone, he has shed an astounding 7 stone – humbly referring to it as “some excess wood” – and is now eagerly taking on his rigorous dance lessons for the upcoming season of Strictly Come Dancing. He’s got his sights set on the coveted glitterball trophy, teaming up with partner Katya Jones in a resolute effort to bring it home.

As a lifestyle aficionado, I’ve found myself shedding pounds like never before, and it all started when I joined the BBC One dance extravaganza!

Wynne mentioned that she has grown more comfortable with her physical self. She admitted that spending extended periods looking at mirrors feels strange for her, as it’s something she typically shies away from.

How Wynne Evans the chubby opera singer from the Go Compare ads lost seven stone to be the surprise favourite to win Strictly

How Wynne Evans the chubby opera singer from the Go Compare ads lost seven stone to be the surprise favourite to win Strictly

‘But I’m really enjoying it. I haven’t seen my neck in a long time. I feel like a giraffe!’

He puts his weight loss down to a ­c­alorie-controlled diet, long walks with his new love, events manager Liz Brookes, 50, and – of course – the ­physical demands of Strictly.

Wynne, who is full of warmth and enthusiasm, has emerged as an unforeseen hero in this season’s events. The storyline initially unfolded amidst the shadow cast by the disagreement between Amanda Abbington, a renowned actress from Sherlock, and professional dancer Giovanni Pernice.

Apart from being at the top of the leaderboard last week, Wynne also received a heartwarming nickname from head judge Shirley Ballas – “snuggle bunny”. To add to the charm, his playful kiss towards Craig Revel Horwood when receiving some positive feedback left the audience in stitches. In fact, Craig praised him by saying, “You have command, control, and you were really leading that dance.

After completing their Viennese waltz, Ballas and Katya found themselves standing tall, and they received a total of 30 out of 40 points from the judges.

Not bad for the ‘portly, balding middle-aged father’ – Wynne’s words, not mine.

Swiftly becoming a beloved contender, despite being unexpected, is he, who attributes his impressive performances to the ‘fair yet firm’ coaching of Katya, who he claims has helped mold him effectively.

The duo reside in Cardiff from Mondays to Thursdays, enabling Wynne to host his morning radio program. He credits her for keeping him energized, he says. Essentially, it’s a mix of 50% dancing and 50% counseling. She appears to be nearly two decades younger than me, yet she seems to possess wisdom that surpasses my own by twenty years.

How Wynne Evans the chubby opera singer from the Go Compare ads lost seven stone to be the surprise favourite to win Strictly
How Wynne Evans the chubby opera singer from the Go Compare ads lost seven stone to be the surprise favourite to win Strictly

Katya Schmidtova has remained unattached ever since her separation from professional dance partner Neil Jones, which occurred in 2019 following media exposure of their shared kiss with celebrity contestant Seann Walsh. (Paraphrased from your original sentence)

Wynne, the presenter of the morning radio program on BBC Wales, has recently expanded his duties and is now acting as a matchmaker for someone named Katya. He previously arranged a date for her in Cardiff as part of his efforts to help her find a suitable partner.

He mentions that he’s been searching for someone from Wales for her, he shares. He’s been introducing her to charming spots, such as the Rum & Fizz cocktail bar and The City Arms, a venue favored by local rugby enthusiasts.

At his residence, Katya has not only teamed up with Wynne but also had the opportunity to meet his family members including his children, girlfriend, brothers, and friends. A grand launch event ensued where she got acquainted with everyone present. Katya and Tal, Wynne’s son, shared a dance moment. There was some lively music in the kitchen, and it turned out to be quite enjoyable, according to him.

On Wednesdays, she also appears as a guest on his radio program, and he’s currently helping the Russian ballerina learn some basic Welsh expressions.

However, the pair possess a lifestyle that emphasizes hard work alongside fun, a fact acknowledged by Wynne, who acknowledges its impact on his wellbeing. The performer’s physique is currently adjusting to extended working hours and rigorous physical activity.

Last night, Wynne mentioned that he went to the bathroom, and his girlfriend asked him why he seemed odd because he was moving slowly across the room. He replied, “I guess my body is adjusting to it.

Even though he’s tired, his dance partner encourages him to persist, saying something like, “C’mon, c’mon, we can’t stop now.” He finds this encouragement helpful.

How Wynne Evans the chubby opera singer from the Go Compare ads lost seven stone to be the surprise favourite to win Strictly

According to him, the duo is firmly committed to triumphing. However, the diligent work culture on Strictly Come Dancing has put the BBC in a controversial position after the Abbington/Pernice scandal. Despite validating only six out of 17 complaints made by Abbington, the BBC issued an apology to her earlier this week.

Her behavior has led management to assign monitors or supervisors in the training areas, which is a way of keeping an eye on her during these sessions.

According to Katya, we don’t have a chaperone, but instead, we have “Rehearsal Room Researchers”. She mentions that their role seems quite tedious as it can be incredibly dull.

Wynne mentions that they typically change locations. Usually, they spend a week with us here in Cardiff, then depart for another destination. After that, we’ll welcome a new one the following week.

As a die-hard enthusiast, I can hardly contain my excitement! Following my triumphant samba in the initial round and the graceful Viennese waltz last Saturday, I’m all geared up to conquer the cha cha cha tonight, in this movie week-themed extravaganza. Can’t wait to see how it unfolds!

He shared with The Mail his plan to wear tights, heels, and a skirt to embody Hollywood’s Mrs. Doubtfire. “I don’t see myself as the jester,” he explained, “but I believe we have a good sense of humor, and it wouldn’t be right not to incorporate that into our dance routine.

Despite the humor surrounding him on Strictly and his charming, somewhat pushy character in his ads for GoCompare, Wynne hasn’t always been a beacon of positivity.

He’s openly shared profound feelings about his mental health issues that surfaced after the 2016 divorce from Tanwen, their children’s mother, including Ismay, aged 22, and Taliesin, aged 20.

How Wynne Evans the chubby opera singer from the Go Compare ads lost seven stone to be the surprise favourite to win Strictly
How Wynne Evans the chubby opera singer from the Go Compare ads lost seven stone to be the surprise favourite to win Strictly

‘It was almost like grief, but you can’t grieve for somebody that’s still there,’ he has said.

Experiencing this significantly impacted my psychological well-being, self-assurance, and sense of self – it essentially transformed me into a different individual. I found myself grappling with intense despair and gloomy periods. Thoughts about ending my life weren’t uncommon… I felt trapped without any signs of escape or hope for future happiness.

When his mental health hit its lowest point, his weight significantly increased to approximately 154 kilograms (24 st). After recognizing the need for help, he consulted with psychiatrists who prescribed antidepressants for him. He also adopted a new fitness routine – aiming to walk 10,000 steps daily and purchasing an exercise bike and treadmill to maintain this regimen.

It’s evident that he flourished under the care and encouragement of his family and acquaintances, such as Welsh actress Joanna Page, best known for her role in Gavin & Stacey. Notably, she went above and beyond, even pausing filming the final episode of the comedy to attend Strictly Come Dancing’s debut show.

Last week, upon completing his act, Wynne checked his phone to discover a barrage of messages waiting for him from her.

Every week without fail, I receive a bunch of voice messages from Jo,” Wynne mentions. “She often comments things like, ‘You’re walking down the stairs now’, ‘Great job!’ or ‘That was a funny joke, well done!’ It’s like she’s providing live commentary.

If Wynne chooses to carry on with the competition, he expects more positive message from Joanna. However, he confides that next year, he might be the one sending her those messages himself. He expressed: “I truly hope she participates. She’d excel. She has a good rhythm. I would watch her every week in the audience.

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2024-10-05 01:23

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