JUDI JAMES analyses Strictly's Wynne Evans and Katya Jones' body language after THOSE awkward wandering hand and high five moments
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The lasting impression from Saturday night's Strictly Come Dancing episode was an awkward one to say the least - after things appeared to get very uncomfortable between Wynne Evans and his pro partner Katya Jones.
During the fourth live show, as host Claudia Winkleman revealed this week's voting lines were open, Wynne, 52, put his arm around Katya only for her to knock his hand away as it moved along her waist.
A second awkward interaction saw the pro dancer appear to shun her celebrity partner's attempts at a high five after Sam Quek and Nikita Kumzin's performance.
Soon after in a video posted to Instagram they apologised for the odd moments saying they were just 'messing around'.
But after trying to brush things off with their video clip after the show MailOnline's body language expert Judi James has shared her thoughts on what tensions could be lurking below the surface.
The lasting impression from Saturday night's Strictly Come Dancing episode was an awkward one to say the least - after things appeared to get very uncomfortable between Wynne Evans and his pro partner Katya Jones
During the fourth live show, as host Claudia Winkleman revealed this week's voting lines were open, Wynne, 52, put his arm around Katya only for her to knock his hand away as it moved along her waist
A second awkward interaction saw the pro dancer appear to shun her celebrity partner's attempts at a high five after Sam Quek and Nikita Kumzin's performance
She said: 'The Strictly balcony is the show's hospitality hotspot for cheesy, overkill emotional displays. Fake smiles become faker, a deluge of tears follow performances and claims of 'friends for life' adulation signals between dancers and celebrities are the norm.
'Even performers that don't get on behind the scenes act as thought they are best friends in what are often exaggerated cover-up behaviours for the cameras.
'Which makes these non-verbal transactions between Wynne and Katya even more unusual.
'Katya is one professional on the show who has been through showbiz hell and back (including a divorce with a fellow dancer) and always emerged with a wide smile and a bounce in her step.
'If anything her huge smile widens when she's under pressure or when she's teamed with a celebrity who struggles to perform.'
Katya and Wynne broke their silence after she was spotted appearing to push his wandering hand off her waist.
After eagle-eyed viewers expressed concern on social media, the pair took to Instagram to address the situation.
Addressing fans in a video, Katya began: 'Hello everybody it's Wynne and Katya here. We just wanted to say we were just messing around in the Clauditorium on Saturday night and just want to say sorry.
'It was a silly joke,' as Wynne added: 'Yes sorry'.
Soon after in a video posted to Instagram they apologised for the odd moments saying they were just 'messing around'
But after trying to brush things off with their video clip after the show MailOnline's body language expert Judi James has shared her thoughts on what tensions could be lurking below the surface
Wynne then added in the caption: 'Apologies for this tonight we were just messing around. We really are amazing friends'
Some fans were left unimpressed by the reasoning as only the high-five was addressed in the video
Wynne then added in the caption: 'Apologies for this tonight we were just messing around. We really are amazing friends. The high 5's is a running joke. Have a great evening @katyajones'.
However, some fans were left unimpressed by the reasoning as only the high-five was addressed in the video and were more concerned about his hand on her waist.
Expert Judi said of the waist moment: 'Balcony poses are always very tactile so the way she not only pushes Wynne's hand away but also makes a little move to re-define the distance between them looks at the very least unusual.
'As she stands smiling and nodding as Claudia speaks Wynne puts one hand on her shoulder and the other hand on her waist. That last hand seems to inch round her waist until it is further front, at which point Katya pushes it back, leans away and re-boots her pose so that her legs are crossed and her hands clasped.
'Neither allow their smiles to drop but those smiles are normally applied with shellac on Strictly, even injuries don't tend to dim them.'
Strictly fans were left shocked after they first spotted the incidents during Saturday night's show.
The couple have appeared to be getting on brilliantly during training and were third on the leaderboard with their sensational Tango for week four.
Judi said: 'Even performers that don't get on behind the scenes act as thought they are best friends in what are often exaggerated cover-up behaviours for the cameras. Which makes these non-verbal transactions between Wynne and Katya even more unusual'
However, it seems tensions could be rising between the pair after fans took to Twitter after spotting awkward moments between the duo.
Viewers were quick to notice the toe-curling moment as they took to Twitter to share their reactions.
Of the awkward missed high five Judi added: 'In the second clip we can see Wynne seeking Katya out during a group scene to offer her a double high 5 celebratory ritual, holding both his hands up and grinning at her.
'She turns but seems to keep her hands clasped as she cuts him. There's no cheeky grin on her face as she turns back to suggest this is non-verbal banter or joking and he is left to put the raised hands onto his head instead to avoid looking rejected.
'If this were a joke you'd expect it to end with both laughing uproariously together. He still puts a hand on her shoulder as she faces front though and she does reciprocate by putting both her hands over his.'
Despite them apologising for what they call 'messing around' Judi says thier apology video raises further questions.
She said: 'These two moments look bad enough for eagle-eyed viewers but their 'apology' video actually seems to dig a bigger hole. Why apologise to the viewer? It makes it looks as though they've been told to do so like two naughty kids.
'And there are no signals in this video like shared laughter, eye contact or fun behaviour to endorse the suggestion that they were 'joking'.
'Wynne's smile looks awkward and becomes a teeth-baring gesture when he opens his mouth to try to speak. His 'Yes, sorry' looks penitent and he finishes with a lip-clamp with his mouth pulled down at the corners in a denial ritual. Katya leans into the camera with her brows raised and finishes with clenched teeth.
'The intriguing thing is that in terms of Strictly body language traditions the less a couple get on the wider and more overkill their smiles and signals of affection. But there's no apparent attempt at that from queen of the bravado smiles Katya here.'
Fans penned on X of the awkward waist moment: 'Anyone else see Katya push wynne's hand away'; ''Katya moving Wynne's hand away then….';
'Did anybody else just see Katya push away Wynne's hand - she did that awkward smile.'
'There was a really awkward moment towards the end of Strictly during judging where Wynne's hand crept across Katya's waist and she pushed it away';
'Urgh...just seen the clip of Wynne. Katya was clearly uncomfortable'.
Elsewhere, haring the video of the awkward high-five, one fan wrote: 'You left Wynne hanging again Katya'.
Meanwhile fans slammed the judges for 'overmarking' two of the show's contestants, insisting 'they must really want them to win'.
Wynne and Katya scored 34 for their Tango, receiving 8 points from Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beck and nine from Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse, making it his highest score so far.
Dancing the Tango to Abba's Money Money Money, the judges praised him for his high energy routine, with Anton saying it was 'tremendous' and 'one of your best performances.'
Craig said: 'You bum was sticking up - but I loved, loved, loved it. Winner, winner, winner.'
Motsi agreed and said: 'This was your best dance yet, I've been waiting for this dance, I knew it was coming. What I love is that you guys give us a story...beautifully timed.'
Head judge Shirley Ballas was also full of praise and said: 'I got goosebumps, it was passionate and told a tale. You got out there and I could see you're in it to win it.'
However some fans didn't agree with the feedback and accused BBC bosses of giving out special treatment.
Some believed Wynne is a 'judges' favourite' and 'very cliquey' with them all.
Earlier this month, it was revealed Wynne has found love again after the breakdown of his 16-year marriage left him contemplating suicide.
The couple have appeared to be getting on brilliantly during training and are were third on the leaderboard with their sensational Tango for week four
Claudia and Tess were dressed to impress for the fourth live show
The opera singer has been in a relationship with events manager Liz Brookes, 50, since earlier this year.
Wynne previously revealed he hit 'rock bottom' in the midst of his depression, stemming from the end of his marriage to Tanwen, the mother of his two children, in 2016.
But Wynne is now in a relationship with fitness fanatic Liz - who is said to have helped him lose weight ahead of Strictly.
A source told The Sun: 'Wynne and Liz met at an event and are taking things slow, but he's excited about where the relationship might go.
'He is in a much better place now than when his marriage ended. It's like night and day — and he is so happy.'
