Perhaps best known for his role as the memorable Gio Compario – yes, the Go Compare man has an actual name – Wynne Evans, 52, is doing a fantastic job of winning us over with his dancing skills on Strictly Come Dancing.
And, having won on Celebrity MasterChef last year, the opera singer is hoping his winning streak will take him and professional partner Katya Jones, 35, all the way to the Glitterball. Although it might take more than some tuna tartare to win over Craig Revel Horwood…
You went all the way on Celeb MasterChef – can you do the same on Strictly?
Well, that’s a bit of a sore subject. Some people – Katya – didn’t do brilliantly on MasterChef [Katya failed to make it out of the heats in 2022], so I try not to talk about it. I only mention it – I now restrict myself to doing it 10 times a day, saying that I actually won MasterChef. And, every time, she says, ‘Yes, but I’ve won the Glitterball.’ So, we’ve got one trophy each.
Have you tried to avoid coming across as the novelty act?
I don’t feel like a novelty, but I think we do have a sense of humour, and it would be wrong not to bring that into our dancing. That’s the lovely thing that you can do on Strictly – that for me is the focus. If people can be bothered to tune into Strictly on a Saturday night, then it’s our job to entertain them. And if you want to treat it as a competition, that’s fine, but that is not the way that we’ll be looking at it.
You’ve mentioned that you need a nervous wee before you dance – is that still the case?
I keep saying I do a nervous wee! Look, I’m 52. A glass of wine and a wee – if you’re ever offered either, take them both.
Have you been getting lots of saucy messages since appearing on the show?
No, I’m not getting any saucy messages, I’m afraid. But I am losing a bit of weight. There’s a bit of timber coming off and the neck is growing. I’m nearly down to single digit chins.
Are you ever worried about the judges’ comments – particularly Craig’s?
I’ve been the Go Compare man for 16 years, and was the most hated man in Britain at one point, so anything that Craig says isn’t going to touch the sides. His comments took a bit of getting used to at the start. But actually, after a while, it’s just somebody’s opinion. So, it doesn’t bother me at all.
Could the Go Compare man make an appearance?
I do a radio show every day for BBC Wales, so I think if I rocked up on Strictly as the Go Compare man, someone might have a clutcher. I think the Go Compare man will stay firmly out of this series!
Have you made friends on the show?
Yeah, it’s great. We have a WhatsApp group, and there’s a lot of, like, ‘I’ve got a niggle in my ankle’, or, ‘How are you finding it?’ And that’s quite reassuring because, as one of the older ones, if the younger ones are struggling, I must be quids in. I went to the toilet the other night and my girlfriend asked, ‘What’s wrong with you?’, because I was just shuffling. I was like, [cries in pain], ‘Ooooh, ooooh…’ My body’s still getting used to it.
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturdays and Sundays on BBC One.
