The Strictly Come Dancing contestants Katya Jones and Wynne Evans have insisted they were playing a joke when she brushed his hand away as he moved it across her waist, before snubbing his attempt at a high-five with her.
The incident, caught on the show’s cameras, had caused some to ask if it was evidence of inappropriate behaviour by the male contestant towards his female dance partner. But, with the pair saying it was a pre-planned joke, the BBC said its welfare team had looked into the matter and was not planning to take further action.
“The hand incident that happened on Saturday night was an inside – a very silly, very silly – inside joke between Wynne and I. So even the idea that it made me feel uncomfortable or offended me in any way is complete nonsense,” Jones said in an Instagram post on Sunday, in which she appeared alongside Evans.
“It’s quite absurd actually. Now, can we just focus on how brilliantly he’s doing and what an amazing dancer he’s becoming?”
Footage of the incident showed Evans standing behind and to the side of Jones during a segment of the show referred to as the Clauditorium – in which the host Claudia Winkleman talks to the dancers. His hand is initially on her waist and, without breaking her smile, Jones is seen to push it away as he moves it frontwards.
Later, Evans holds his hands up to initiate a high-five with Jones, whose back is to the camera. But she turns away from him – this time without a smile.
A Strictly source told the PA news agency: “Wynne and Katya have confirmed that their interactions in the Clauditorium were silly jokes they had planned together and have apologised to anyone who may have misinterpreted them.
“They addressed them on Wynne’s Instagram, where their apology can be found. Katya would like to clarify further that she was not offended by Wynne and was not made to feel uncomfortable in the least.
“The welfare team have checked in on the pair and there are no further actions planned.”
Strictly returned in September this year for its 20th anniversary with a new cast of celebrities and some changes, including the presence of chaperones during rehearsals.
The chaperones followed a review launched by the corporation after Sherlock actor Amanda Abbington made complaints about her 2023 Strictly professional dance partner Giovanni Pernice.