BBC Strictly Come Dancing Katya Jones' future amid Wynne Evans tour exit confirmed before Manchester shows

Katya Jones' future on the road with Strictly Come Dancing has been confirmed after her dance partner Wynne Evans stepped away from the popular tour.

The opera singer had recently been touring the country as part of the Strictly Come Dancing Live tour 2025, which kicked off earlier this month (January), after competing in the BBC One dance contest with his professional dance partner Katya last year.

The string of live arena shows, set to take place until February 9, kicked off earlier this month but it wasn't until over the weekend that the Mail on Sunday reported that Wynne was heard making the remark to a woman in a video filmed during the launch event for the show on January 16.

Following the reports, Wynne said in a statement: "My language was inappropriate and unacceptable for which I sincerely apologise." A spokesman for the Strictly live tour and BBC Studios, meanwhile, added: "We were not previously aware of the remark and did not receive any complaints. We have made it very clear to Wynne that we do not tolerate such behaviour on the tour."

Wynne and Katya's partnership, however, came to a dramatic end just before they were due to take to the stage on Tuesday evening (January 28) as part of the Strictly live tour stop in Liverpool, with the rest of the shows this week set to take place in Leeds and Manchester before the last run of shows next week, with the tour ending on February 9.

After issuing an apology for the 'inappropriate' remark during the tour's launch earlier this month, Wynne told how he'll 'take some time out' after he found himself in the midst of a new controversy. He said in a statement, which was posted to his Instagram Story on Tuesday evening: "I’ve agreed with the BBC that I’ll take some time out from my radio show and the Strictly Live tour, as well as my other public commitments, to prioritise my wellbeing."

Katya later reshared the statement to her own Instagram Story and said: "Let's show humanity and consideration. I will miss you my darling boy." She then reshared a video from an audience member who had watched Wynne in the show and as well as dancing, he also had his own singing moment. "Really missed this tonight," the pro dancer admitted with a sad face emoji.

The Manchester Evening News understands that the tour, which arrives at the AO Arena on Saturday (February 1), will continue as planned, with Wynne and Katya not being replaced. She will continue to perform, as she has throughout the tour, in the group numbers.

The couples remaining are: Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas, Montell Douglas and Kai Widdrington, Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec, JB Gill, Lauren Oakley and Amy Dowden, Sarah Hadland and Nikita Kuzmin and Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu.

A spokesperson for the Strictly tour said: "Manchester audiences are in for a real treat this weekend, with four spectacular shows, featuring a FAB-U-LOUS line-up of celebrities, pro dancers and, for the first time ever on tour, all four Strictly TV judges."