As the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing returns for a brand new series, one of the stars taking to the dance floor is opera singer Wynne Evans – but how much is he worth?
Strictly Come Dancing has finally returned to our telly screens. The 2024 series kicked off on Saturday, 14 September with a dazzling launch show, and now it’s time for the celebs to dust off their dancing shoes and take to the ballroom for the first live show of the series. Among those hoping to wow the judges and viewers at home is Wynne Evans, who is teamed up with Katya Jones. Best known for his role as the unforgettable ‘GoCompare man’, Wynne is accustomed to making comparisons, but this time around, it’s his dance moves that will be scrutinised, reports OK!.
“I am honestly still pinching myself, a portly balding opera singer, me, taking part in Strictly Come Dancing?! I’m not entirely sure how I’ll fare, if all else fails I’ll just have to master the art of distraction,” he quipped when his participation in the show was announced. “What I do know is I will give it my all and aim to make Wales proud. I’m definitely going to try and incorporate my love of Opera into one of my routines. Plus, after winning Celebrity MasterChef last year, maybe the way to the judges’ hearts will be through their stomachs!”
At the ripe age of 52, Wynne has portrayed Gio Compario for 11 years and has starred in over 100 adverts for the brand. In a chat with The Telegraph about the role, Wynne shed light on the opportunities it had afforded him. “The advert gave me the opportunity to make an album that I wouldn’t have got otherwise. I feel incredibly fortunate. I read in the press that I was paid £450,000 for a two-year deal with GoCompare as long as I didn’t lose weight. What a wonderful diet plan! They are generous, but unfortunately the story is not true,” he said.
When asked in 2022 about his earnings, he kept his cards close to his chest. “Like Gary Lineker, I work for the BBC and appear in a long-running advertising campaign. But sadly, he earns somewhat more than me,” he revealed.
In 2016, Wynne spoke to the Daily Mail about his career and when asked if he’d ever earned “silly money”, he shared what he’d once been paid to sing one note. “Silly money? That would suggest that I’ve been paid too much, and that’s never happened! But yeah, you do have to pinch yourself sometimes, and think: ‘Gosh, I’m very lucky’,” he said.
“For example, I once did an opera recording where I only had about six notes to sing. I was paid the equivalent of £300 a note. That was fantastic.” The New York Banner has estimated Wynne’s net worth at an astonishing $142.5 million.
