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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that Layton shouldn't be allowed.....

100 replies

TyrannasaurusJex · 16/09/2023 20:25

Layton Williams is not only a trained dancer in the West End but has been the lead in two shows with a huge dance element (Billy Elliot and Everyone's Talking About Jamie). AIBU to think that it's massively unfair for him to compete in Strictly? It's like a chef taking part in Bake Off! I know they'll claim it's a different type of dancing but the techniques/learning methods/muscle memory are SO transferable....

OP posts:
0021andabit · 16/09/2023 22:01

The thing is, the show is rubbish if they don’t have a few really great dancers in from the beginning. I love watching people who love dance & who are great at it. To me, that’s important entertainment value.

Namechangenamechanged · 16/09/2023 22:05

He was completely out dancing Nikita tonight! Looking forward to seeing him perform and think he will be fabulous!

Jagley · 16/09/2023 22:06

I haven't watched properly for years because of this. Watched tonight for the Len tribute and thought it looked like the best in a long while but agree that having someone who's been on the west end is a bit too far.
I would love to see a strictly where the contestants are members of the public rather than 'celebs'.

LizzieBananas · 16/09/2023 22:09

Les Dennis has been in more musicals than Layton but I don’t see you complaining about him…

Riverlee · 16/09/2023 22:13

I don’t think Les Dennis is a dancer though, more of an actor. He seemed very stiff tonight (and our prediction for first out, sorry).

Comefromaway · 16/09/2023 22:14

A friend of mine who has a connection to him has seen him performing Latin with their own eyes.

I don’t like him. It’s very telling that when he was announced to go on Strictly the theatre community was very quiet.

TooOldForThisNonsense · 16/09/2023 22:20

I don’t really mind. Who wants to see 15 Les Dennis a likes lumbering around instead? It’s not really comparable to the Bake Off due to the public vote element IMO

Loopylalalou · 16/09/2023 22:26

You couldn’t get fairer than last year’s result. A wildlife cameraman!

PartTimeLove · 16/09/2023 22:33

Yeah, I'm all for having a range of abilities on the show but his job is waaay too close to "professional dancer" for me.

It could make the scoring a bit odd. Wonder if he'll get top scores each week from the judges, which could be enough to see him progress quite far even if the audience doesn't vote for him. Or will the judges somehow moderate their scores to make it seem more "fair"?

(On the other hand, I'd like Nikita to do well - loved him and Ellie S last year.)

MouseMinge · 16/09/2023 22:37

Why do people think that we need the likes of Layton, a semi-professional dancer, so that we don't have wall to wall Widdicombe-alikes? It's never been like that. We've had some awful dancers but there have always been celebrities who've surprised us with their abilities. In recent years we've had Hamsa and Bill Bailey win who are as far from trained dancers as you can get.

I know he won't win because the audience will be pissed off that he's not even a slightly below the radar ringer, but he really shouldn't be there.

Comefromaway · 16/09/2023 22:49

He was really holding back in that group dance. I think he’s going to try and hide his abilities a bit in the early weeks so he can show progression.

PuppyMonkey · 16/09/2023 22:55

It won’t happen but it would be quite funny if he gets booted out first. Grin

hattie43 · 16/09/2023 23:10

He's so camp he's ridiculous , unwatchable .
Looking at them all dancing there's a good few with rhythm .

Samcro · 16/09/2023 23:14

the judges will give him high points
the public won’t vote for him
he will be in the dance off
craig will say he doesn’t understand why he is there
judges will save him
rinse and repeat

Sallyingon · 16/09/2023 23:17

I thought they looked great together in the dance, really looking forward to seeing more. I hope he doesn't hold back, hope he goes all out

Hawkins0009 · 16/09/2023 23:21

i presume they need some stars with skills to keep the show entertaining ?

TallerThanAverage · 16/09/2023 23:24

TyrannasaurusJex · 16/09/2023 21:14

Oh saying nothing at all against him as a person and sure he will be great! just questioning whether a professional dancer should be on it!

Ashley Roberts, Faye Tozer, Denise van Outen, Natalie Gumede, Caroline Flack, Aston Merrygold, Debbie McGee all had dance experience. Ballroom and Latin are completely different disciplines. And it’s not like they win anything major, it’s a glitterball trophy. YABU it’s a light entertainment show no more and for the contestants it’s a job.

EvilRingahBitch · 17/09/2023 00:24

SophiaElise · 16/09/2023 21:59

What was Alesha Dixon's prior dance training?

Ps: she had none.

Show quote history

Alesha had done teenaged dance classes, and a bit of choreography with Mis-Teeq and previous girl groups. Not in the same league as Ashley, who was a professional dancer.

Passingplace · 17/09/2023 00:29

It’s all academic because Les is going to win.

TastesLikeStrawberriesOnASummerEvening · 17/09/2023 14:27

familyissues12345 · 16/09/2023 21:00

Me too, even though I'm old enough to be his mum BlushGrin

Show quote history

Same!
He's just so pretty.

WasJuliaRight · 18/09/2023 06:35

All the Layton haters are going to flip out when they see him in a dress.

the80sweregreat · 18/09/2023 06:40

Samcro · 16/09/2023 23:14

the judges will give him high points
the public won’t vote for him
he will be in the dance off
craig will say he doesn’t understand why he is there
judges will save him
rinse and repeat

This in spades !

ExtraOnions · 18/09/2023 06:59

…it’s not that he’s had dance training and danced at a “West End standard”, I get that - we have a range of abilities

What really annoys me with the “ringers” with the faux surprise when they smash a dance and get high points. Why can’t they just hold their hand up and admit they are starting from a different place. I think that’s one of the reasons they don’t win.

KrisAkabusi · 18/09/2023 08:09

Stroopwaffels · 16/09/2023 20:45

He won't win. Partly because he's an over theatrical pain in the arse, and also because the audience is not stupid and does not want to see a fully trained dancer progress in the competition.

He will regularly be in the bottom two, will keep being saved by the judges, then we'll get the tears and tantrums and stropping off.

Can't stand him. Angela S to win.

You know Angela Scanlon is also a former professional dancer?

Eleganz · 18/09/2023 08:45

SophiaElise · 16/09/2023 21:59

What was Alesha Dixon's prior dance training?

Ps: she had none.

Show quote history

Just seen this, this is not true and is often said about Alesha that she was completely untrained.

She used to travel into central London for dance classes in Bond Street and that was where she was scouted for Mis-Teeq. This is from her own words in a Guardian interview when she was competing in Strictly.

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