There’s only one more day to go, before they’ll take to the dancefloor again.
But Wynne Evans looked noticeably glum on Friday, as he lead the Strictly Come Dancing stars leaving their London hotel to head to Elstree Studios for rehearsals.
After spending all week defending his awkward exchange with his pro partner Katya Jones on Saturday night’s live show, the opera singer, 52, appeared to have lost much of his bubbly excitement.
The Welsh star and the dancer, 32, have been hard at work with training, in between facing questions about the toe-curling viral moment that saw Katya move Wynne’s hand away from her waist and snubbed his attempt at a high-five with her.
And it was clearly taking its toll, as Wynne showed his demoralization on his face, failing to raise a smile as he made his journey solo, with Katya nowhere in sight.
Wynne Evans looked noticeably glum on Friday, as he lead the Strictly Come Dancing stars leaving their London hotel to head to Elstree Studios for rehearsals
After spending all week defending his awkward exchange with his pro partner Katya Jones on Saturday night’s live show, the opera singer, 52, appeared to have lost much of his bubbly excitement
The Welsh star and the dancer, 32, have been hard at work with training, in between facing questions about the toe-curling viral moment that saw Katya move Wynne’s hand away from her waist and snubbed his attempt at a high-five with her (pictured)
The singer sported a collared shirt covered in a colourful skull pattern, with jeans and a zip up hoodie, as well as a downcast expression.
In stark contrast, Tasha Ghouri beamed as she exited the hotel, wrapping up in a grey hoodie and white jogging bottoms.
The Love Island star added platform Uggs and a pair of headphones around her neck, while clutching a coffee to go.
As one of the show’s current frontrunners, Tasha couldn’t hide her excitement to get back on the dancefloor as she made her way to rehearsals.
While her pro partner Aljaž Škorjanec also looked raring to go, grinning as he carried several shopping bags, and sporting a cosy patterned jacket.
Dr Punam Krishan and Gorka Márquez made their journey together, with Gorka gallantly carrying their bags, while looking typically trendy in a striped trousers, a denim jacket and a long black coat.
While Dr Punam also looked stylish in a charcoal grey jumper and matching jacket, with skintight leggings.
Sam Quek cut a casual figure in a pair of ripped jeans, trainers and a black T-shirt, as she checked her phone.
And it was clearly taking its toll, as Wynne showed his demoralization on his face, failing to raise a smile as he made his journey solo, with Katya nowhere in sight
The singer sported a collared shirt covered in a colourful skull pattern, with jeans and a zip up hoodie, as well as a downcast expression
In stark contrast, Tasha Ghouri beamed as she exited the hotel, wrapping up in a grey hoodie and white jogging bottoms
The Love Island star added platform Uggs and a pair of headphones around her neck, while clutching a coffee to go
As one of the show’s current frontrunners, Tasha couldn’t hide her excitement to get back on the dancefloor as she made her way to rehearsals
While her pro partner Aljaž Škorjanec also looked raring to go, grinning as he carried several shopping bags, and sporting a cosy patterned jacket
While Dianne Buswell and Chris McCausland also journeyed together, with Dianne braving the cold in a checked dress that left her toned legs on full display.
She added a pair of brown boots and cream jumper, as she chatted away to fan-favourite Chris on their way out of the hotel.
And Shayne Ward gave a smile and a thumbs up on his exit, carrying a sports drink and hiding his face under a tweed cap.
It comes after fans have become convinced of a simmering feud between Wynne and Katya after noticing ‘tension’ during Sunday’s results show – despite the pair blasting claims of a rift as ‘absurd’.
Viewers were left sure that all is not well between the pair after highlighting another awkward interaction, during which Katya appeared to glare at him.
Hours earlier, the Russian ballroom professional was forced to dismiss growing rumours of a feud after she was caught swiping his hand away following their live performance on Saturday evening.
And now it’s been revealed that the dance duo are in serious danger of being booted off Strictly on Sunday’s results show according to the bookies.
Wynne – who was once a frontrunner for the Glitterball Trophy – is just 5/1 to be sent packing from the competition this week having been 25/1 in the same market last week.
Dr Punam Krishan and Gorka Márquez made their journey together, with Gorka gallantly carrying their bags, while looking typically trendy in a striped trousers, a denim jacket and a long black coat
Sam Quek cut a casual figure in a pair of ripped jeans, trainers and a black T-shirt, as she checked her phone
While Dianne Buswell and Chris McCausland also journeyed together, with Dianne braving the cold in a checked dress that left her toned legs on full display
She added a pair of brown boots and cream jumper, as she chatted away to fan-favourite Chris on their way out of the hotel
And Shayne Ward gave a smile and a thumbs up on his exit, carrying a sports drink and hiding his face under a tweed cap
Katya has defended her celebrity partner, declaring he has been ‘portrayed as someone he is not’, as the pair insist his ‘wandering hand’ incident was a silly joke.
Appearing on It Takes Two on Monday evening, Wynne admitted he had watched the footage of the incident back and confessed: ‘I can see how people may have misinterpreted it.’
Clinging to his arm, Katya said she ‘can’t bear’ the flack her co-star is getting and was empathetic that there was no wrongdoing.
She said: ‘The idea that it made me feel uncomfortable or offended in any way is total nonsense, and those that have doubts, you guys have got it wrong. So hopefully this will be the end of it, and you just keep making me smile.’
She added: ‘I can’t sit here watching this man being portrayed as someone he’s not. In fact, it couldn’t be further away from the truth.
‘So I have to make this absolutely clear that this whole incident, with the hand and the high five on Saturday night, was an inside joke between Wynne and I. Was it a silly joke? Yes, was it a bad joke? Yes.’
Wynne, who has starred in the GoCompare adverts for over a decade, claims that he has been left ‘heartbroken’ by the fallout after some Strictly fans called for him to be axed from the show.
Speaking on BBC Radio Wales, where he presents a daily show, he said: ‘I’m absolutely heartbroken by the things that have been written about me in the last day.
It comes after fans have become convinced of a simmering feud between Wynne and Katya after noticing ‘tension’ during Sunday’s results show – despite the pair blasting claims of a rift as ‘absurd’ (pictured Saturday)
Katya has defended her celebrity partner, declaring he has been ‘portrayed as someone he is not’, as the pair insist his ‘wandering hand’ incident was a silly joke
He said: ‘I’m absolutely heartbroken by the things that have been written about me in the last day.
The duo had become surprise favourites to win this year’s Strictly, scoring 34 out of 40 from the judges for their tango on Saturday.
‘It’s not nice to live in that time, but basically Katya and I are really, really close and we’re really good friends, and on Saturday night we made a stupid joke.
‘It was a stupid joke that went wrong, okay, we thought it was funny. It wasn’t funny. It has been totally misinterpreted.
‘Everything’s on Katya’s socials. She’s talked about it. She’s explained that it was a joke. She wasn’t offended in the least. She doesn’t feel uncomfortable.
‘We’ve got a brilliant friendship, an absolutely tight friendship, and I’m sorry if anybody was offended by it, but it was a joke and yeah, that’s all there is, there is no real story, really.
‘And I feel weird apologising because I feel like I’ve not really done anything.’
He agreed he had ‘misjudged it’, when interviewed on Radio Wales Breakfast before starting his own show on the station, and confirmed he was ‘absolutely still up for’ Strictly.
Both Katya and Wynne have taken to social media in an attempt to clarify what happened over the weekend, describing it as an inside joke between them and confirming they are friends
Wynne, who has starred in the GoCompare adverts for over a decade, claims that he has been left ‘heartbroken’ by the fallout after some Strictly fans called for him to be axed from the show
He said: ‘I’m having the best time of my life. I just don’t want this to be the bit that people remember.’
Fan speculation comes after the dancing duo’s behaviour in the fourth live show.
Following the revelation that they were safe and would be performing once again next week, several of the couples made their way to the green room.
During a discussion about Wynne’s dance, host Claudia Winkleman asked the singer how he felt he had done.
Wynne replied: ‘I am shocked because I didn’t think I’d survive week one so to be here after having done a tango is really thrilling. And I had such a good time and thankyou to Katya’s clever choreography.’
As Wynne gave his answer fans spotted that Katya remained stony faced and even appeared to wince as the opera singer evaluated his performance.
Some even pointed out that he stood with his hands behind his back which they believed was a response to fan backlash following Saturday’s episode.
As Claudia revealed this week’s voting lines were open, Wynne put his arm around Katya only for her to knock his hand away as it moved along her waist.
Another second frosty moment saw the Russian dancer appear to shun her celebrity partner’s attempts at a high five after Sam Quek and Nikita Kumzin’s performance.
Standing with both hands outstretched, Katya seemed to deliberately turn her back on her partner instead of returning the gesture.
As Wynne gave his answer fans spotted that Katya remained stony faced and even appeared to wince as the opera singer evaluated his performance
Another second frosty moment saw the Russian dancer appear to shun her celebrity partner’s attempts at a high five after Sam Quek and Nikita Kumzin’s performance
The incident caused such concern among BBC top brass, who have spent months firefighting accusations of misconduct on previous series, that a welfare investigation was conducted.
But the BBC have since insisted they will not pursue the matter, with the dance partners insisting their perceived awkwardness was part of a yet to be clarified ‘in-joke’.
A spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘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.’