Layton Williams in Strictly

[Char65]

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?

He was in Fresh Meat, so I was thinking he may want to do more acting on TV. Not sure how much musicals pay, but I don't think it would be as much as being in a TV show or films

He is already a massive name in musical theatre, and when you add in things like his acting in Bad Education.

He might not have danced ballroom/Latin, but Darcy was a trained dancer in a different discipline and she was a judge. To have Layton, and others like Ashley Roberts in previous years is a bit unfair.

I personally don't think that the Powers That Be would mind one little bit if Layton went home in the quarter-finals to Ellie (or even Nigel/Bobby) due to a similar coincidence of a good dance for her and a bad dance for him. Shock exits are ratings gold for them.

I do cynically suspect that there are plans for Angela R at Blackpool, but other than that, it's much better for the producers to let the public vote have its way and give people the performers that the public's votes tell us that they want to see.

I am fine with it, it’s really boring watching inexperienced dancers do mediocre performances. There are plenty of challenges within competition structure even for an experienced dancer, and the judges mark him accordingly. Nikita seems to be having fun too, it’s nice to watch.

Louis Smith did acrobatics too and nobody minded because he’d learned them as a gymnast not a dancer. Not all dancers can do acrobatics, it’s more of an add-on talent even for professionals.

I noticed he was introduced at the very beginning (when they all come down the stairs) as 'actor' not musical theatre performer.

Louis Smith was cartwheeling all over the place !

Yes but he was a gymnast, not paid for dancing in west end shows

Totally agree: I’m bemused when people think he’s arrogant. He’s a brilliant performer so hardly going to act like a shrinking violet but it’s just his stage persona. He’s hardly going to do a bumbling dad dance which is what makes him and Nikita so compelling to watch. He’s been the best part of the series for me personally although I do want Ellie to win I think. I love Krishnan and his partner too as they both seem so happy and lovely. But he comes across as grateful in interviews and looks genuinely thrilled to make it through to another week.

Speaking of camp, I’m also enjoying the Mamma Mia completion on ITVX.

What do people want the BBC not to employ dancers/ performers or performers not to do paid work ?

I love watching Layton dance with Nikita! It’s unlikely that he will win Strictly because he’s a professional dancer, but in the meantime he’s doing fantastic performance each week.

I wish they’d stop putting him in a dress though, there’s no need for it

They aren't "putting him in a dress" though are they? I was under the impression he requested that he should be allowed to wear dress or trousers.

Ashley Roberts, who was on it a few years back, was not only a professional dancer but had also been a judge on dance shows in the US. Debbie McGee was a professional ballerina before she met Paul Daniels, and directed dance shows while she was performing with him. And I'm pretty sure we've had many other past contestants who have had a lot of dance experience, including musical theatre, or trained as dancers one way or another. Faye Tozer trained as dancer pre-Steps and did a lot of musical theatre in the West End before she did Strictly.

I don't think Strictly has ever been about people who have never danced learning to dance. They've always had a real mix of contestants in terms of dance experience, and in most cases, the winners still tend to be the ones who haven't danced before even when there are other competitors who have a lot of experience. For example, the public voted for Stacey Dooley over Ashley Roberts and Faye Tozer, both of whom were trained dancers while Stacey wasn't. Bill Bailey and Hamza Yassin were not, in all honesty, technically the best dancers of either of their series, but they won because we loved seeing their progress and their journeys as non-dancers.

Totally agree: I’m bemused when people think he’s arrogant. He’s a brilliant performer so hardly going to act like a shrinking violet but it’s just his stage persona.

I wouldn't be so sure about that from his reputation in the industry.

I wonder if he actually wants to win. I think I’d be a bit mortified, in his (dancing) shoes.

And how are you privvy to this information? Is it from first hand experience?

But he was a gymnast, with no dance training! And sports people, although they're fit, are often too stiff to dance or have trouble changing the way they move (Judy Murray, anyone?)

“expected him to be a bit annoying but I’ve found him to be quite sweet”

I agree with this.

He’s won me over.

I've not met him or worked with him myself. I know several people who have.

Agree with this. I’ve rewatched Faye’s couple’s choice so many times. And their Charleston.

Are we still talking about Layton?

Yes I agree. Completely unfair. I've done a lot of dancing in the past and this idea that being good at one type doesn't mean you can do another type isn't true. When you are used to learning dances and moves you can generally adapt to other types. I did a lot of musicals etc and I can pick up Latin and ballroom quite easily. It gives him a massive advantage over everyone else.

Can't bear him on the fact he's in the show?

I haven’t been a fan of Layton but that AT was utterly phenomenal. That absolutely should have been a 40

Iconic