28 October 2023 , 21:56
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BBC Strictly Come Dancing contestants think it's "ridiculous" that they're up against a West End star, a source has claimed.
The cast is mainly made up of amateur dancers, and while some have more training than others, none are quite as qualified as Layton Williams. The 29-year-old trained dancer has scored an incredible 39 out of 40 with his partner Nikita Kuzmin for the last two weeks, and viewers think he's a nailed-on winner.
But it's reportedly causing unrest among the other contestants, one of which has reportedly spoken out about how unfair it is to go up against Layton, who has been performing on stage since the age of 12 when the Bury native bagged the lead role in Billy Elliot the Musical.
Layton has received criticism for being a trained dancer (PA)As reported by Mail Online, an anonymous source said that although having dancers of "different standards" on the show is why it's so great, having a celebrity who is "as good or even better" than the pro they're paired with is "ridiculous". They added: "There is such an uneven playing field here that it is impossible for any of the other contestants to have a chance of winning, even if the viewers do enjoy watching a celebrity's journey.
"While there might not be a rule that professional dancers can't take part, it absolutely goes against the spirit of the show. Look at someone like Krishnan Guru-Murthy, he has built up a huge fan base and is wonderful to watch, and Angela Rippon." They added it's not fair that they are "blown out of the water" by someone who is trained professionally to dance.
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BBC reps declined to comment on the claims, but a Strictly insider told Mirror Online: "Layton is not the first person with 'dance experience' to have appeared on Strictly, it would be near impossible to find a cast of 15 celebrities who have no previous dance experience as many actors and pop stars go to stage school. He has never been trained in Latin and Ballroom and was booked because he has a fantastic personality. He absolutely deserves a place on the show as much as anyone."
Layton and Nikita scooped 39 in week five after performing their incredible Salsa (BBC)Layton has also been forced to respond to criticism, saying they deserve to be where they are on merit, adding that any stage experience doesn't give an advantage in the ballroom competition. Layton told the Manchester Evening News : "It's so weird when you're on the top and you want to celebrate, but some people can be so quick to say awful things. What would be lovely is for people to stop spreading hate and instead tell their favourites they love them instead. How much nicer would that be? I get that some people don't like me and that's fine, but take that energy and put it to good use, instead."
He explained: "I hope that, by watching the show, people can see that I am not perfect and that I have so much to learn. When I first started, I didn't even realise that Latin and ballroom were two different things."
Layton added: "I feel that everyone on the show is being critiqued within their own ability and I don't think I am taking up anyone else's space by being here. Quite frankly, I was asked to be on this show just like everyone else so I deserve to be here and I am working just as hard as everyone else."