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AIBU?

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Original poster

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:
KingsleyBorder · 15/11/2023 11:17

I’m not disputing that he is someone who gets paid to dance. But his job is performer, not dancer. He’s a GP not a surgeon.

KingsleyBorder · 15/11/2023 11:19

As someone said, it’s a TV show, not the Olympics. They only get a trophy for winning! Just chill and enjoy it?

Comefromaway · 15/11/2023 11:33

A performer with a leading dance company is a professional dancer. yes, he can do other stuff. You often get dancers branching out into other genres such as musicals or TV acting. But he is a professional dancer.

CatOnTheCludgy · 15/11/2023 11:35

I don't think he should be a contestant. However HOWEVER he sure can dance! That Argentine Tango was beautiful. Just wow.
But it's not exactly much of a 'journey' for him is it

Comefromaway · 15/11/2023 11:49

I expect the correct thing to say is that in 2015 he was working as a professional dancer in one of the UK's leading dance companies.

My daughter is a professional dancer but she also works in panto, theatre in education, teaching and front of house in a theatre. The other jobs don't make her any less of a professional dancer though.

Trina90 · 15/11/2023 13:55

KingsleyBorder · 15/11/2023 11:19

As someone said, it’s a TV show, not the Olympics. They only get a trophy for winning! Just chill and enjoy it?

Yeah.

Cant wait to see him and Nikita dance again on Saturday. 😆

LizzBurg · 15/11/2023 15:25

Comefromaway · 15/11/2023 11:49

I expect the correct thing to say is that in 2015 he was working as a professional dancer in one of the UK's leading dance companies.

My daughter is a professional dancer but she also works in panto, theatre in education, teaching and front of house in a theatre. The other jobs don't make her any less of a professional dancer though.

And if a tiktok or something went viral and she became known to some of the audience, like Joe Sugg for example and she was asked to compete on Strictly…….would she do it?

LizzBurg · 15/11/2023 15:44

Char65 · 15/11/2023 07:48

It doesn't matter how nice Layton is the question was should a professional dancer be allowed to compete on Strictly? and 82% of voters said "no".

I think what annoys me and I guess a lot of people is the BBC trying to 'pretend' he is a 'celebrity' and not a pro dancer. I was never keen on Krishnan but was impressed by how he improved as a dancer (with little or no dance knowledge) from week one until Sunday when he was voted out and too me that's what its all about. Its the same with the results show and the BBC pretending its 'live' - which is a another whole topic!

the question was should a professional dancer be allowed to compete on Strictly? and 82% of voters said "no".

well if 82% of MN voters say so bin him off. I think you’ll find that nowhere does it say that a dancer cannot participate in the show. Krishnan was great, he said it was life changing. Yes life changing so having Layton dance hasn’t ruined the whole experience. And do you know why that is? Because Layton’s involvement has no bearing on the other contestants experience on Strictly.

JoanThursday1972 · 15/11/2023 15:55

Would you like to see a whole cohort of Krishnans?

peakedatseven · 15/11/2023 16:11

I keep seeing claims that Layton is more of a ringer than anybody else they’ve ever had on but is he actually more of a ringer than Ashley from Pussycat Dolls? I would put them on the same level of dance experience.

I like watching Layton and Nikita dance together and think he has actually been improving. Not on the level of improvement as some of the others given his starting point, but still improving. He won’t win (I think Ellie will) but I’ll enjoy watching him when he’s dancing.

Samcro · 15/11/2023 16:24

he won't win. if he ends up in the DO the judges will say that they don't understand why he is there. happens every time. I wish they would be honest and accept that obvious ringers don't win.
I enjoy watching him and he seems nice.

Comefromaway · 15/11/2023 16:25

I'd say she was similar although I think that Layton's previous experience in Latin type styles will be helping him a lot (I don't see any evidence of Ashley having studied or performed those styles but I know far less about the US schools/colleges than I do UK ones).

Original poster
Char65 · 15/11/2023 18:44

LizzBurg · 15/11/2023 15:44

the question was should a professional dancer be allowed to compete on Strictly? and 82% of voters said "no".

well if 82% of MN voters say so bin him off. I think you’ll find that nowhere does it say that a dancer cannot participate in the show. Krishnan was great, he said it was life changing. Yes life changing so having Layton dance hasn’t ruined the whole experience. And do you know why that is? Because Layton’s involvement has no bearing on the other contestants experience on Strictly.

Show quote history

No, but it ruined it for me because one finalist was Guaranteed from the Get go and whilst I don't like to see a whole load of Krishnan's and accept inevitably some 'celebs' have more experience than others I think someone like Layton is clearly in a box on his own when it comes to his experience.

OP posts:
Ihavenoauthority · 15/11/2023 18:54

When I first saw him dance, I honestly couldn't tell who the professional was and who the so-called celebrity was. He should not be in that show as a contestant.

Original poster
Char65 · 15/11/2023 19:25

Ihavenoauthority · 15/11/2023 18:54

When I first saw him dance, I honestly couldn't tell who the professional was and who the so-called celebrity was. He should not be in that show as a contestant.

My thoughts exactly

OP posts:
WatchOutMissMarpleIsAbout · 15/11/2023 21:12

I wrote to BBC and I got such a rubbish generic reply it made me so cross. He’s a bloody professional dancer. It’s unfair. End of.

TangerineNeonLight · 15/11/2023 21:28

WatchOutMissMarpleIsAbout · 15/11/2023 21:12

I wrote to BBC and I got such a rubbish generic reply it made me so cross. He’s a bloody professional dancer. It’s unfair. End of.

I'm interested to know what reply you expected? They put a ringer in every year, and for good reason - Layton's dances will be racking up tons of views across social media, creating engagement, getting attention. There is a contingent of viewers who object, but the showstopping content they get outweighs that. Layton's dances have longevity - people won't be watching Krishnan next year, but they will be sharing that Argentine tango still. It's good for the show - and it's great to watch!

LizzBurg · 15/11/2023 21:29

WatchOutMissMarpleIsAbout · 15/11/2023 21:12

I wrote to BBC and I got such a rubbish generic reply it made me so cross. He’s a bloody professional dancer. It’s unfair. End of.

unfair ahs coven GIF

Hahaha you wrote to the BBC? What did you expect, that they would remove him from the show?

WatchOutMissMarpleIsAbout · 15/11/2023 21:31

Of course I didn’t expect them to do anything about it! But he’s more of a ringer than some others and i complained that it’s not an even playing field. Which it isn’t! And honestly what’s the point of moaning on SM
about it if not complaining to the bbc. Imo.

TangerineNeonLight · 15/11/2023 21:33

I don't think they've ever pretended that it is, or should be, an even playing field. It's an entertainment show, not a serious dance competition.

chocolateisavegetable · 15/11/2023 21:49

I absolutely love watching Layton - he’s the only reason I’m watching.
It doesn’t have to be fair - it’s an entertainment programme. You couldn’t ever make it 100% fair anyway - athletes have high levels of fitness which gives them an advantage over some, for example.

If you don’t enjoy watching it, don’t watch it.

Trina90 · 15/11/2023 22:10

WatchOutMissMarpleIsAbout · 15/11/2023 21:12

I wrote to BBC and I got such a rubbish generic reply it made me so cross. He’s a bloody professional dancer. It’s unfair. End of.

🤣🤣

Marple, this reminded me of when I, as a heartbroken teenager, wrote a ‘letter’ to my ex-boyfriend that I never intended to send.

Was it cathartic at least? I hope so.

Lieblingsessen · 15/11/2023 22:14

TangerineNeonLight · 15/11/2023 21:28

I'm interested to know what reply you expected? They put a ringer in every year, and for good reason - Layton's dances will be racking up tons of views across social media, creating engagement, getting attention. There is a contingent of viewers who object, but the showstopping content they get outweighs that. Layton's dances have longevity - people won't be watching Krishnan next year, but they will be sharing that Argentine tango still. It's good for the show - and it's great to watch!

Show quote history

I'm one of those who have watched Layton and Nikita's Argentine Tango numerous times. It was truly stupendous. And kudos to Nikita too. He is now my favourite male pro following Alijaz's departure.

All I can say is I don't care if the OP and others think Layton is the 'ringiest of ringers' (what a phrase). I just want to see a dance that gives me joy. It can be Hamza with no prior experience or Layton with lots. Or someone like Kelvin who you would think wouldn't be able to move with all those muscles, but surpringly had natural rythym and was a sight to behold. ☺️

So I look forward to seeing more great dances from him and others such as Ellie.

Original poster
Char65 · 17/11/2023 10:46

Lieblingsessen · 15/11/2023 22:14

I'm one of those who have watched Layton and Nikita's Argentine Tango numerous times. It was truly stupendous. And kudos to Nikita too. He is now my favourite male pro following Alijaz's departure.

All I can say is I don't care if the OP and others think Layton is the 'ringiest of ringers' (what a phrase). I just want to see a dance that gives me joy. It can be Hamza with no prior experience or Layton with lots. Or someone like Kelvin who you would think wouldn't be able to move with all those muscles, but surpringly had natural rythym and was a sight to behold. ☺️

So I look forward to seeing more great dances from him and others such as Ellie.

Show quote history

OK its not a dance competition - its just a light entertainment show. A bit like the Generation Game which the late great Bruce Forsyth used to host. Well then ditch the glitterball trophy, continue with the judges critical but entertaining comments but have no scoring and just let anyone who wants to enter enter so there's a mix of abilities. Problem solved.

OP posts: