Wynne Evans: I'll represent portly dads on Strictly

Wynne Evans said he "could not believe" he would be appearing on Strictly Come Dancing

Wynne Evans has said he will represent "every portly, middle-aged father out there" when he appears as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing later this year.

The Welsh singer and presenter, who is also the face of Go Compare, was revealed as one of three new celebrities joining the Strictly line-up on Tuesday.

Evans, from Carmarthen, told BBC Radio 2 he "could not believe" he had been selected for the show.

"It’s all cloak and daggers," he said. "You go for this audition and you meet some of the dancers and all that, and then, right, you’re given a codename. It’s my favourite thing about the whole thing."

Evans has had two number one classical music albums and has given over 200 performances at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

He also hosts a regular show on BBC Radio Wales, and is currently filming a new series with Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page about the Welsh coastline.

“The classic ballroom stuff is the one I’m looking forward to the most," Evans told Vernon Kay on Tuesday.

"Obviously, 20 years as an opera singer, we did quite a lot of classic ballroom in opera."

But he admitted to feeling "really nervous" about "any kind of jumping".

"Because I think I represent every portly middle-aged father out there," he said.

"Who's like, 'I don’t really want to do the jive and set a minor tsunami off in north London'."

Evans has had two number one classical albums

Evans said he was inspired by the comedian Bill Bailey, who won the show in 2020.

"He was brilliant on it, and so that is my inspiration," he said.

He joins fellow celebrities Toyah Willcox, Dr Punam Krishnan, Chris McCausland, and JB Gill in the current Strictly line-up, with the remaining contestants set to be announced in due course.

"I’ve bought tap shoes, jazz shoes, character shoes, ballet shoes. I’ve got all the gear, I’ve got a whole new gym kit, I’ve got a new bag, and a pencil case for making notes, and a notepad," he said.

“I love the glitz, the glamour, I love all of that, so I’m well up for it.”

Strictly has been at the centre of controversy after claims emerged about the treatment of some of the celebrities on the show.

The BBC said it would introduce measures to "strengthen welfare and support", including a chaperone during training room rehearsals.