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Layton Williams in Strictly

337 replies

Char65 · 05/11/2023 19:23

I am a big fan of Strictly but I have lost interest in it this year because of Layton Williams as he is a professional dance. His CV reads

2007–2008: Billy Elliot the Musical
2008–2009: Beautiful People
2016: Hairspray the Musical UK Tour - playing Duane
2016-2017: Rent UK Tour - playing Angel
2017-2018: Hairspray the Musical UK Tour - playing Seaweed J. Stubbs
2018-2019: Kiss Me Kate - playing Bill Calhoun/Luciento
2019-2022: Everyone's Talking About Jamie - playing Jamie New

He was also in a Michael Jackson show - and I believe Jackson could dance a bit!

To me its no fair to pitch a pro against amateurs though I accept a lot of actors have also done dance at stage school but not appeared in the West End like this guy! What do others think?

OP posts:
LunaNorth · 05/11/2023 19:24

There are ringers, and there’s Layton.

It’s ridiculous. He did a no-handed cartwheel this week, ffs.

Chchchanging · 05/11/2023 19:24

Did he dance ballroom and Latin in the west end?
A lot of them appear to have had previous dance training...

UpaladderwatchingTV · 05/11/2023 19:25

Absolutely agree with you! Terribly unfair on the others who are all working really hard to put out a great performance.

TwiddlingMyToes · 05/11/2023 19:27

Much as I love seeing 'ordinary' people do strictly, I do also love seeing people with talent. It's far more enjoyable seeing people with actual talent over a bunch of Les Dennis's (sorry Les!).

So my view is, let Layton dance because he's bloody amazing, but score him accordingly (which I feel they have been doing).

SellFridges · 05/11/2023 19:28

Too many this season with training. I’m always borderline on stage school training, which will include dance, let alone west end performers. What a nonsense. They don’t go on a journey so it’s not interesting.

ssd · 05/11/2023 19:28

He is a brilliant dancer, must be hard for the others.

itsmyp4rty · 05/11/2023 19:29

I think he's amazing and I love having him in there - I don't think it works well though when he tries to be the woman in a dress though. I also don't think it would be right if he won, that's for the person who has progressed the most or had no dance training but turned out to be brilliant.

DanceMumTaxi · 05/11/2023 19:30

Totally agree. It’s completely unfair. His level of dance training far outweighs other contestants.

Pinkitydrinkity0 · 05/11/2023 19:30

I agree, it’s no surprise he’s doing so well when he has a background in performing arts! He may not have danced ballroom etc but he still has experience of learning routines and music and most importantly knows how to perform.

The strictly contestants that do well are the ones that are natural performers and know how to put on a show.

dancinfeet · 05/11/2023 19:30

completely agree. I teach dance and it is no way a fair competition to have people with zero dance experience compete against someone with professional theatre dance experience.

Mrsjayy · 05/11/2023 19:33

There is always going to be dancers on strictly Caroline flack had a degree in dance Denise van outen had been in the west end Ashley Roberts an actual dancer ! Layton might not be to everybody's taste but the guy was asked to be on Strictly so that's where he is. I don't think he will win.

Wotchaz · 05/11/2023 19:34

I reckon they’ve done it deliberately because the previous same sex couples have been a bit “meh”. So they’ve brought in someone who’s guaranteed to stay in for longer and show what a same sex couple can do. Doesn’t stop me finding him irritating, but maybe worth it to see Nikita each week!

Angrycat2768 · 05/11/2023 19:40

His level of dance training is ridiculous and it used to annoy me ( I still don't vote for him) but sometimes when you are watching medicre dances I look forward to watching him as he's so good. He also allows Nikita to show off his skills as he gives him difficult choreography. However he does need to be marked far more harshly than he is, with all the gushing ' Oh that's amaaazing' 10 marks( well yes, because he's a professional dancer!) I doubt he will win because its based on viewer votes. He was invited to go on and he has done it to raise his profile and maybe move out of musical theatre. He was hardly going to say no.

Trina90 · 05/11/2023 19:42

I love watching him and Nikita dance though!

I do think two 8s for his jive was a bit harsh and that the judges would have given 9s to weaker dancers. He did SO many steps. I do agree that he will have so much background knowledge and practice other contestants don’t have but he’s not the first, and where is the line drawn given actors can often sing and dance?

I think Ellie will win though so I don’t mind.

AutumnCrow · 05/11/2023 19:42

It has put me off watching tbh.

I like the triers, the learners, the developers.

HarrietSpying · 05/11/2023 19:43

Totally agree. Can’t bear him. I don’t watch him now. Much prefer the others. I hope he doesn’t make it much further but I suspect he will.

dreamersdown · 05/11/2023 19:44

I don’t think he should win (unfair) but I wouldn’t say that he’s made me lost interest - I really look forward to seeing his dance, he’s so great. I look forward to seeing him in the same way I look forward to the professionals dancing!

Baconisdelicious · 05/11/2023 19:45

it’s no surprise he’s doing so well when he has a background in performing arts!

erm….they’re celebrities. The odd journalist or MP aside, the majority have a background in performing arts.

Angrycat2768 · 05/11/2023 19:46

where is the line drawn given actors can often sing and dance?

Yesthat's the problem. They have a lot of soap actors, who are basically lifted from Sylvia Youngs and the like, where they do singing, acting and dance. You would have to have only sports stars and journalists/ TV presenters.

CrystalMaisie · 05/11/2023 19:46

i like Layton, I like watching good performers. This week the feedback on his jive was spot on; really good performance but not very much jive content. So being a pro dancer still doesn’t make him a good latin dancer. His feet were still not in the right position.
Ultimately it’s the public voting them through.

Trina90 · 05/11/2023 19:48

dreamersdown · 05/11/2023 19:44

I don’t think he should win (unfair) but I wouldn’t say that he’s made me lost interest - I really look forward to seeing his dance, he’s so great. I look forward to seeing him in the same way I look forward to the professionals dancing!

Absolutely! It’s hard to tell the difference between him and Nikita sometimes. I find them captivating to watch. I can’t believe people would rather watch more mediocre performances.

MyGooseisTotallyLoose · 05/11/2023 19:48

And it's the ringing crap like this that makes me resent paying for the shit bbc licence.
It's laughable that they expect us to believe they give a shit what the audience vote for. The BBC know who they want to win.

MoonRiverDancing · 05/11/2023 19:48

Wotchaz · 05/11/2023 19:34

I reckon they’ve done it deliberately because the previous same sex couples have been a bit “meh”. So they’ve brought in someone who’s guaranteed to stay in for longer and show what a same sex couple can do. Doesn’t stop me finding him irritating, but maybe worth it to see Nikita each week!

That’s how I feel!

Trina90 · 05/11/2023 19:50

Angrycat2768 · 05/11/2023 19:46

where is the line drawn given actors can often sing and dance?

Yesthat's the problem. They have a lot of soap actors, who are basically lifted from Sylvia Youngs and the like, where they do singing, acting and dance. You would have to have only sports stars and journalists/ TV presenters.

Yep, hence the term “triple threat” referring to those who can do all three really well.

Baneofmyexistence · 05/11/2023 19:50

I think the bigger problem is when last week Shirley told him he didn’t do basic bronze level steps (my 7 year old has a bronze award in ballroom!) then gave him a 9 for his dance.