The controversy between Strictly’s Katya and Wynne is being criticized by Women’s Aid

The pair addressed the controversy in a video posted to social media, with Jones saying: “We just wanted to say we were just messing around in the Clauditorium on Saturday night, and just want to say sorry for a lame joke.”

Evans added: “Yes, sorry.”

Jones also subsequently discussed the issue on the companion show It Takes Two, saying: “I can’t bear to sit here and watch this man being portrayed as someone he’s not.

“And in fact, it couldn’t be further from the truth, so I have to make this absolutely clear: This whole hand-shake and high-five incident on Saturday night was an inside joke between Wynne and I.

“Was it a bad joke? Yes. Was it a bad joke? Yes.

“However, it was a joke, and even the idea that it made me feel uncomfortable or offended in any way is total nonsense. Those who doubt, you are wrong.”

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Evans said on BBC Radio Wales on Monday: “I am absolutely heartbroken by the things that have been written about me in the last day.

“It’s not fun to live in those times, but actually Katya and I are very close, and we are very good friends, and on Saturday night we made a stupid joke.

“It was a stupid joke that went wrong, okay? We thought it was funny. It wasn’t funny. It was completely misinterpreted.”

However, Women’s Aid has now criticized the incident, saying in a statement that “we need a media culture where women feel safe to make their voices heard, where sexually inappropriate behavior is not trivialized or joked about”.

“Inappropriate behavior towards women is no joke,” the charity wrote on social media.

“We need to create a media culture where women feel safe to have their voices heard. It is important to challenge so-called ‘jokes’ that trivialize this behavior so that we do not continue to normalize toxic attitudes.”

RadioTimes.com has contacted the BBC for comment.

Reacting to the incident, a Strictly source said in a statement: “Wynne and Katya have confirmed that their interactions in the Clauditorium were stupid pranks they planned together, and have apologized to anyone who may have misinterpreted them.

“They addressed them on Wynne’s Instagram, where their apology can be found.

“Katya would like to further clarify that she was not offended by Wynne and that she did not feel uncomfortable at all – she also clarified this on her Instagram and they have both since appeared on Strictly It Takes Two.

“The welfare and production teams have checked on the pair and no further action is planned.”

Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday and Sunday.

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