Ambassadors of a children’s charity in Wales have been left ‘horrified’ after disgraced opera singer Wynne Evans was announced as the ‘surprise’ act for their fundraising lunch.
A post on the Women in Wales Facebook page on Wednesday announced the 53-year-old, made famous by the Go Compare adverts, would perform at the event today.
In January, The Mail on Sunday caught on video the BBC Radio Wales host making a vile sexual slur to his female co-star Janette Manrara on the Strictly Come Dancing live tour.
He was subsequently dropped from the tour and the BBC has launched a wide-ranging investigation which goes beyond the Strictly live incident.
The Women in Wales Facebook post read: ‘Wynne will be filling the room with his breathtaking vocals, an unforgettable performance for you all this Friday.’
The announcement was followed by a post from Mr Evans, who gleefully wrote on his own social media page: ‘Thank you to all the organisations, promoters, charities and people who have stuck by me and not believed the lies.
Ambassadors of a children’s charity in Wales have been left ‘horrified’ after disgraced opera singer Wynne Evans was announced as the ‘surprise’ act for their fundraising lunch
‘Let’s all move forward together and find a way and a platform to make people smile by lunchtime once again.’
But when supporters of the charity – which raises money to support children’s charities and projects in Wales – were approached by the Mail they admitted no prior knowledge of his performance and distanced themselves from the event.
One woman involved in the charity, who chose to remain anonymous, said: ‘I had no idea and I am absolutely horrified and outraged Wynne Evans is performing.
‘It flies in the face of everything we have been campaigning tirelessly for and puts our hard work back. This is unacceptable. I want nothing to do with it.’
Another added: ‘We are a women’s charity, and I am so upset we would be associated with him.’
Mr Evans was previously condemned by Women’s Aid after he and his Strictly partner Katya Jones dismissed a ‘grope’ incident as an unexplained ‘in-joke’.
Women’s Aid slammed the pair’s response, saying that ‘inappropriate behaviour towards women is no laughing matter’.
The singer’s girlfriend, Liz Brookes, 50, is the events manager for Women in Wales and is said to be ‘completely supporting’ him. They have been in a relationship for a year and she stood by him throughout his tumultuous time on Strictly.
In January, The Mail on Sunday caught on video the BBC Radio Wales host making a vile sexual slur to his female co-star Janette Manrara on the Strictly Come Dancing live tour
They met at an event after his 16-year marriage ended, and Ms Brookes helped turn his life around by encouraging an interest in fitness and helping him get in better shape for Strictly.
Women in Wales is a children’s charity run by women, founded 31 years ago by Princess Anne’s lady-in-waiting Dame Shân Legge-Bourke. Last night, sources close to Dame Shân said the 81-year-old was not involved in the organisation of the luncheon and had never been due to attend.
Mr Evans has been contacted for comment. A source previously told The Sun he had been ‘wronged’ and his legal team were assembling a 30-page dossier to help his case.