Strictly in fix row as judges accused of ‘overmarking’ controversy-laden couple

FURIOUS Strictly fans have hit out at the judges for “overmarking” Wynne Evans and Katya Jones on tonight’s show.

The Welsh opera star, 52, and pro dancer Katya, 35, returned to the dancefloor following the “grope” row to perform a Salsa.

The pair, who were dressed in matching devil costumes for the Halloween special, were awarded an impressive 31 points.

Craig Revel Horwood awarded them 7 points, while Motsi Mabuse, head judge Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke scored them an eight.

Craig was quick to praise them, saying: “I loved loved loved those lifts you’re a born entertainer.”

But those at home were baffled by the high scores and said he only “deserved a six” for the routine.

One wrote: “‘Wynne is getting so blatantly overmarked each week and it’s doing my absolute head in.

“That dance was easily his worst dance yet in my opinion and yet he got three 8’s????? i’m genuinely baffled.”

A second said: “Wynne well overmarked IMHO It was more 25 or 26 and definitely not a 31…. Judges have the people they like and they generally pick up an extra point per judge. Seems unfair to me but its not a dance show anymore.”

A third raged: “Sorry but a 31 is a joke! Surely BBC favouritism at play at this point? What am I missing that is so good with Wynne?”

This angry viewers posted: “Absolutely f**k off. both JB and Wynne were massively massively overmarked. way way too much messing around and loosing all technical aspects. an absolute joke.”

Another added: “I’m sorry, but i’m really not seeing what the judges are seeing with Wynne… he just had Katya doing gymnastics on his shoulders for half the dance and even that didn’t look flawless.”

“Wynne’s dance was a six in my eyes, confused that they’ve scored him an eight,” someone else shared.

It comes after Wynne came under fire again for allegedly telling a “crude” joke to one of the show’s make-up artists.

Insiders claim the opera star made a joke that the folds of his double chin “looked like a vagina”.

According to the Mirror, he made the remark ahead of the Strictly Come Dancing launch show last month.

A source told the outlet: “It was a bit of a vulgar dad joke.”

No official complaint has been made, and the insider added: “Wynne clearly didn’t mean any offence, but you have to be a little bit careful these days.”

A source close to Wynne said the joke was “self-deprecating and made in a private conversation” with a make-up artist, who was also said to not have been “offended”.

Last month, Wynne was left “heartbroken” following a backlash after his Strictly pro partner Katya was filmed removing his hand from her waist.

They then sparked further fury, when she was seen refusing to high-five the Opera singer.

The duo were quick to issue a video apology and insisted it was all an innocent “inside joke”.

Days later, Wynne took to his BBC Radio Wales show for a further raw reveal.

He told his listeners: “I’m absolutely heartbroken by the things that have been written about me in the last day.

“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, OK?

“We thought it was funny. It wasn’t funny.

“It was been totally misinterpreted.”

The Go Compare advert star then gushed over his “brilliant friendship” with the Russian and added: “Everything’s on Katya’s socials. She’s talked about it.”

Despite fans demanding the pair clarify exactly what “the joke” was, Wynne didn’t explain any further.

He said: “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 that’s all there is. There is no real story, really.”

PURE BANTS

Wynne was referring to the video Katya had uploaded to her social media pages this weekend.

The clip – posted shortly after the online chaos ensued – saw Katya tell fans: “Hi everyone, it’s Wynne and Katya here, we just wanted to say we were messing around in the clauditorium on Saturday night and we just want to say sorry.”

She added: “It was a silly joke.”

While Wynne echoed: “Yeah, sorry.”

Katya then hit back a second time in a another video upload.

On Sunday afternoon, Katya returned to Instagram with another message for her fans.

She said: “Happy Sunday everyone. Now, I need to make something crystal clear.

“The hand incident that happened on Sunday night was indeed a very silly inside joke.

“So even the idea that he made me feel uncomfortable or offended me in anyway is complete nonsense.

“It’s quite absurd actually.

“Now can we just focus on how brilliant he is doing and what an amazing dancer that he’s becoming.”

BAD TASTE?

The pair’s banter came after the BBC series was engulfed in a string of scandals – though there is no suggestion Katya and Wynne’s joke was inappropriate.

The findings of a probe into former Strictly professional Giovanni Pernice’s behaviour were published earlier this month.

The report upheld six out of 17 allegations against pro dancer Gio.

The BBC has now apologised to his former show partner, actress Amanda Abbington, over the programme’s bullying scandal.

It was claimed the corporation spent an eye-watering six-figure sum on the investigation.

Meanwhile, the same investigation also saw Giovanni’s fellow Italian pro Graziano Di Prima axed after allegations of “physical incidents” towards show partner Zara McDermott, 27.