Former Strictly Come Dancing star Wynne Evans has confirmed that he has split from fiancée Liz Brookes – only weeks after popping the question.
The Welsh opera singer, 53, began dating events manager Liz, 50, last year, and proposed while on holiday in Morocco this June.
Sharing a snap of himself popping the question to a stunned-looking Liz, Wynne announced via Instagram: ‘Big news… I got engaged! 💍’
Fast-forward a few weeks, and he and Liz have now apparently broken up.
Taking to Facebook Live on Saturday morning, he described himself as more ‘level-headed’ than he’d been in years after ‘having been in a bad place or a relationship that’s not healthy for me.’
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‘It’s now calm,’ he said, seemingly confirming the end of the relationship.
Wynne’s split from Liz was confirmed by a source for The Daily Mail, who said: ‘Wynne and Liz broke off their engagement a few weeks ago.’
The publication’s source credits the ‘pressure’ of the new restaurant he has decided to open in his hometown of Carmarthen.
He will also be starting his own radio show, set inside the restaurant.
The Mail’s source continued: ‘The pressure of his new business ventures took its toll and they had a big fallout. Initially, there was a belief they would get back together when the ill-feeling died down, as they had split before and managed to patch things up.
‘But with Wynne actively trying to date again and going public describing the relationship as ‘not healthy’, it’s safe to say they’ve split for good this time.’
Wynne and Liz first met when he performed at a corporate function for the firm where she worked.
She was an audience regular at Strictly, where she watched him perform and cheered him on.
They began dating after his divorce from his wife of 17 years, Tanwen Evans, with whom he shared daughter Ismay and son Taliesin.
Liz stuck by the Go Compare frontman throughout the scandal which followed his Strictly appearance and live show controversy.
They were initially reported to have split after he was caught joking about a ‘spit roast’ or ‘threesome’ with Strictly Live presenter and professional dancer Janette Manrana, 41.
A source told The Sun that Liz had been ‘humiliated by what happened when he was on Strictly’.
This insider continued: ‘She always knew he was a bit old school, and actually liked the fact he seemed rough round the edges. She just assumed it was all part of his charm.’
They added: ‘It’s not clear exactly when they split, but friends say that when his latest lewd gaffe was revealed at the Strictly Live Tour launch she was relieved they were no longer together.’
However, another source later told The Mirror that Liz was ‘rallying around’ Wynne, leaving him ‘appreciative of all the love and support he is getting.’
He apologised soon after being dumped from the Strictly Live tour, describing himself as ‘deeply sorry for the pain my inappropriate action caused.’
During an appearance on ITV’s This Morning, he described himself at his ‘lowest ebb’ over the scandal – which also included accusations of ‘inappropriately touching’ professional dance partner Katya Jones.
Wynne and Katya addressed the furore as a ‘silly joke’ gone wrong, but Wynne was beset with more controversy, first after the ‘spit roast’ incident, and then again after mucking around with a sex toy in a video with EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick.
‘I wanted to end my life. I would have if I hadn’t been surrounded by people,’ he said to hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard.
‘I remember saying to my girlfriend, “I have to kill myself. I have to because this is what they want.” ‘You’re full of these thoughts the entire time and it takes over your life.’
In June, Wynne proposed to Liz while on holiday in Morocco. Announcing the news, he shared: ‘This weekend in Morocco, somewhere between the couscous, the camels, and me limping around the souks like a man with no spatial awareness, I proposed to Liz — and she said yes! (No take-backs, I’ve checked.)
‘She’s clever, she’s kind, she’s got excellent taste in men. Absolutely no idea how I pulled that off, but here we are! Feeling very lucky, very happy, and just a tiny bit smug.’
The post also included a photo of their hands holding glasses of champagne, with Liz wielding her engagement ring.
A source told The Sun: ‘It has been a tumultuous six months for Wynne, but Liz has been his absolute rock throughout.
‘Finally, some wonderful news for Wynne and his inner circle to celibate and everyone is chuffed for them both.
‘He secretly bought an engagement ring and squirrelled it away for their holiday and then popped the question over champagne.’
They added: ‘Liz has been incredible over the past few months, supporting him through thick and thin, and had his back throughout, but obviously Wynne is telling everyone she’s a lucky girl!’
Metro.co.uk has reached out to Wynne Evans’ representative for comment.
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