Wynne Evans facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wynne Evans
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Evans on the cover of A Song in My Heart
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| Born |
James Wynne Evans
27 January 1972 Carmarthen, Wales
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| Alma mater | Guildhall School of Music and Drama |
| Occupation |
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| Known for | Go Compare adverts, BBC Radio Wales |
| Spouse(s) |
Tanwen Evans
(m. 1999; div. 2016) |
| Children | 2 |
James Wynne Evans (born on January 27, 1972) is a famous Welsh opera singer, presenter, and actor. Many people know him as Gio Compario from the Go.Compare insurance adverts on TV in the UK. He has also hosted many radio shows, including regular programmes on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio 2.
Wynne Evans is also known for his acting and singing in big productions. He played Ubaldo Piangi in the 25th anniversary show of The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall. He also sang "Glory Glory Tottenham Hotspur" at the last game at White Hart Lane stadium and again at the opening of the new stadium. In 2023, Wynne won Celebrity MasterChef on BBC One. In 2024, he competed in Strictly Come Dancing with his dance partner, Katya Jones. They were eliminated in Blackpool.
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Wynne Evans: Opera Singer
Wynne Evans was born in Carmarthen, Wales. He studied music at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the National Opera Studio. These are special schools where people learn to become professional singers.
In 2011, Wynne was chosen to play Ubaldo Piangi in the 25th anniversary show of The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall. This was a very special performance of the famous musical.
Wynne has worked a lot with the Welsh National Opera. He has sung many different roles in their shows. Some of his roles include Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore, The Duke in Rigoletto, and Rodolfo in La bohème.
He also performed at the Royal Opera House in London in 2009. He sang in an opera called Cherevichki. In 2011, he appeared there again in an opera about the life of Anna Nicole Smith, called Anna Nicole.
Wynne has sung for many other opera companies too. These include Opera de Lyon, English National Opera, Opera North, and Scottish Opera. He has played roles like Alfredo in La Traviata and Tamino in Die Zauberflöte.
Wynne Evans: Concert Performer
As a concert singer, Wynne Evans has performed in many big events. He sang in Vaughan Williams' Serenade to Music at the opening night of the 2001 BBC Proms. He also performed Elgars' The Dream of Gerontius at the Welsh Proms.
Wynne has recorded music for CDs. He is a soloist on three CD albums called Here Come the Classics with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also appeared many times on the BBC's Friday Night is Music Night.
He also presents radio shows with his brother, Mark Evans, on BBC Radio Wales.
Wynne Evans: Recording Artist
In 2010, Wynne Evans signed a big deal with Warner Music to record six albums. His first album was called A Song in My Heart. It was released on March 21, 2011. This album quickly became number one in the UK Classical Charts. His second album, called Wynne, came out in 2013.
Wynne Evans: TV and Radio Star
Go.Compare Adverts
Since August 2009, Wynne Evans has been the star of the adverts for Go.Compare. This is a website where people can compare insurance prices. In the adverts, he plays a lively opera singer named Gio Compario.
In 2012, Go.Compare started a new series of adverts called "Saving the Nation." Wynne Evans was still Gio Compario in these. He made adverts with famous people like Jimmy Carr and Stephen Hawking. In these funny adverts, the other stars would try to stop Gio Compario from singing.
Other TV and Radio Work
In 2023, Wynne Evans won the cooking competition Celebrity MasterChef on BBC One. In August 2024, it was announced that he would be on Strictly Come Dancing. He danced with professional dancer Katya Jones. They were voted off the show on November 17, 2024.
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Wynne started presenting TV shows in 2011. He hosted a programme for the BBC about the National Eisteddfod of Wales. He also had his own show on S4C. In 2012, he became a regular presenter on BBC Radio Wales. From October 2013, he hosted a weekly show called Wynne Evans' Big Welsh Weekend. He then presented The Wynne Evans Show on weekdays from 2016 until June 2023. Since June 2023, his show has been on from 9 AM to 12 PM.
In May 2012, Wynne was one of eight celebrities who learned Welsh at a campsite in Pembrokeshire. This was for a TV series called cariad@iaith:love4language on S4C.
He also presented The Guide to Opera on Classic FM in 2012. This show was even nominated for an award. In 2013, Wynne became a regular presenter on Classic FM. He also appeared on the football show Soccer AM in 2012 and 2013.
In March 2015, Wynne Evans appeared in the TV show Stella on Sky1. In 2016, he hosted a BBC One Wales programme called Search for A*.
Awards and Recognition
Wynne Evans has received several important awards. In 2012, he became a member of the Gorsedd of the Bards of Wales. This is a special honor in Welsh culture. In 2013, he was made an Honorary Fellow of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.
He was also made a Member of the Order of Saint John by Queen Elizabeth II in 2008. In 2022, he received the British Empire Medal (BEM). This award was for his great work in music, broadcasting, and charity.
Personal Life
Wynne Evans helps run the Elizabeth Evans Trust. This trust was set up in memory of his mother, Elizabeth Evans. She founded and managed the Carmarthen Youth Opera and the Lyric Theatre in Carmarthen for 25 years. She passed away in 2004. Wynne and his two brothers started the Trust to continue her work.
A film was made about his mother's life called Save the Cinema. Wynne had a small role in the film. He also made a program for Sky Arts called Behind the Curtain about his own life. Wynne has two children and is divorced.
