Strictly's new welfare team forced to step in over Wynne Evans and Katya Jones hands row

Strictly Come Dancing is just four weeks into its new 2024 series and the show's new 'welfare team' has been forced to step in following an awkward handsy exchange between Wynne Evans and his pro dance partner Katya Jones.

The Welsh opera singer, famed for his Go Compare ad, had been seen putting his hand around s waist on camera before she grabbed it and threw his hand off her.

Moments later, holds up his hands for a high-five but Katya blanks him and turns away.

The pair assuring fans that it was just a 'private joke' when Katya snubbed Wynne.

This year, Strictly has a new welfare team behind the scenes following a row brought on by former contestant Amanda Abbington which saw Giovanni Pernice leave the show, although he denied any wrongdoing over his training methods.

The rows have led to the development of a new 'welfare team' on the show and this weekend it was called into action over the Katya and Wynne issue.

No further action is planned, the PA news agency understands.

During Saturday night's instalment of the popular BBC One show, a moment between the pair seen on camera showed Jones, 35, pushing away opera singer Evans' hand from her midriff.

The pair later apologised in a video posted to Evans' Instagram page, saying they were "just messing around in the Clauditorium on Saturday night and just want to say sorry. It was a silly joke".

A caption alongside their apology said they "really are amazing friends" and added that the "high 5's is a running joke", after another moment on Saturday night appeared to show Jones not wanting to high five her celebrity partner.

A Strictly source told the PA News agency: "Wynne and Katya have confirmed that their interactions in the Clauditorium were silly jokes they had planned together and have apologised to anyone who may have misinterpreted them.

"They addressed them on Wynne's Instagram, where their apology can be found.

"Katya would like to clarify further that she was not offended by Wynne and was not made to feel uncomfortable in the least.

"The welfare team have checked in on the pair and there are no further actions planned."

The couple scored 34 for their tango to Abba's Money, Money, Money during Saturday night's show.

Strictly returned in September this year for its 20th anniversary with a new cast of celebrities and some changes, including the presence of chaperones "at all times" during rehearsals.

The chaperones followed a review launched by the corporation after Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington made complaints about her 2023 Strictly professional dance partner Giovanni Pernice.

The BBC last month apologised to Abbington, saying in a statement: "We have assessed the complaints and we have upheld some, but not all, of the complaints made.

"We want to apologise to Amanda Abbington and to thank her for coming forward and taking part. We know this would not have been an easy thing to do."