Professional Strictly Come Dancing performer Katya Jones defends her celebrity partner Wynne Evans after 'hand incident' goes viral

A professional Strictly dancer has defended her dance partner after a viral video caused hundreds of people to suggest he had made her uncomfortable.

During Saturday night’s show, Welsh opera singer Wynne Evans slid his hand into the middle of Katya Jones’ waist, which she then pushed away.

The now-viral moment came as host Claudia Winkleman revealed that voting lines were open for this week’s show.

This caused hundreds of people on social media to speculate that Jones was uncomfortable during the interaction.

A second clip of the pair went viral, showing Evans, a Welsh opera singer, trying to greet Jones and being rebuffed.

After the duo started trending on social media, they posted a video together saying that the high-five incident was just a “silly joke.”

Evans, who became famous for starring in Go Compare opera adverts, captioned the post: “We were just joking. We’re really amazing friends.”

Now, Jones has responded directly to the clip of her moving Evans’ hand away from the middle of her waist.

“Happy Sunday everyone,” she said in a video posted to Instagram.

“Now, I need to make something very clear. The hand incident that happened on Saturday night was an inside joke – very silly, very silly – between Wynne and me.

“So even the idea that this made me uncomfortable or offended me in any way is complete nonsense.

“It’s quite absurd, actually. Now, can we just focus on how brilliantly he’s doing and what an incredible dancer he’s becoming?”

Read more on Sky News:
DJ dies in Ibiza at age 38
Woman fell victim to ‘UK’s longest catfishing scam’
Giorgio Armani reveals when he plans to retire

A social care team also checked on the pair, according to the PA news agency, and no further action is planned.

The couple danced the tango to Abba’s Money, Money, Money during Saturday night’s show, scoring 34 points.

This season marks Strictly’s 20th anniversary with a new cast of celebrities and some changes, including the presence of chaperones “at all times” during rehearsals, following a series of bullying allegations on the show.

It came as DIY SOS star Nick Knowles became the third celebrity eliminated from the 20th anniversary series of Strictly Come Dancing following Sunday night’s results show.