Inside Strictly star’s two-year journey to lose a staggering seven stone

Before signing up to appear on the upcoming season of Strictly Come Dancing, Wynne Evans kick started a weight loss journey.

The opera singer, 52, is best known for his role as Gio Compario and later as himself in the Go.compare insurance adverts, which he first appeared on in 2009.

He has also released two number one classical musical albums, hosts a programme on BBC Radio Wales and won Celebrity MasterChef last year.

He was then recently announced as one of the stars competing on the 20^th anniversary season of Strictly.

Two years ago, Wynne revealed his weight had crept up to 23 stone, which he contributed to suffering from depression, his marriage breakdown and the death of both his parents.

However, in September 22 he overhauled his diet and exercise routine and since then has lost a jaw-dropping seven stone.

What is Wynne Evans best known for?

Wynne Evans studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the National Opera Studio.

In late 2011, he was cast as the opera singer Ubaldo Piangi, in the 25th anniversary celebratory production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall.

He has also performed in numerous productions put on by the Welsh National Opera and also made his debut at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in 2009.

The same year he was cast in the Go.Compare advertising campaign, playing the flamboyant, operatic tenor Gio Compario.

In 2010, he signed a six-album deal with Warner Music; his first album A Song in My Heart and was released in 2011 and went straight to number one in the UK Classical Charts in the following week.

He has also presented on BBC Radio Wales since 2012.

Last year he also won the eighteenth series of Celebrity MasterChef.

Why did he go on a weight loss journey?

After a lifetime of struggling with his weight, in September 2022 Wynne decide to focus on improving both his mental and physical health.

At one point he had to ‘be careful what chair [he] would sit on, just in case [he] broke’ it, adding he was ‘embarrassed’ at his weight gain.

After going on a camping trip with friends, Wynne ‘couldn’t join in’ on the hikes and was ‘having trouble washing in the shower’ due to his size.

Admitting food had been his source of comfort during times of stress or hardship, he previously said ‘eating became second nature’.

At his heaviest he weighed 23.6 stone and wore a size 5XL, which was around the time he split from his ex-wife in 2016.

However, after seeking professional help for his depression, he then decided to look at focusing on his fitness too.

The father-of-two purchases a Peloton bike and treadmill and started running every day, as well as adjusting his diet and calorie intake, cutting out cheese and carbohydrates.

What updates has he shared about his health kick?

Over the past two years Wynne has shared regular updates about his fitness journey, including photos when he goes on runs, cycles and also posting comparison photos.

‘I feel amazing; I can dress smarter; I can be smarter. I mean, if you’re happy being a bigger person, that’s great, that’s fantastic, but for me, it has just made me feel so much better,’ he told The Mirror last year.

‘I feel alive again, and I feel like I can do anything now.’

However, he did reveal his diet did largely feature one specific ingredient.

‘Because I’ve been on a diet and I’ve lost six stone, I always have cauliflower because, cauliflower mash, cauliflower rice, cauliflower and chips, cauliflower curry, everything cauliflower,’ he told Wales Online.

What has he said about signing up to Strictly?

When his Strictly casting was announced on Vernon Kay’s BBC Radio 2 show Wynne spoke about his nerves for the challenge ahead.

‘I’m not entirely sure how I’ll get along, if all else fails I’ll just have to learn the art of distraction,’ he said.

‘What I do know is I will give it my all and aim to make Wales proud. I’m definitely going to try and combine my love of Opera into one of my routines. Plus, after winning Celebrity MasterChef last year, maybe the route to the judges’ hearts will be through their stomachs!’

Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday September 14 at 7.20pm on BBC One.

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