Strictly star Layton Williams 'taking it all on the chin' as he ignores trolls
Strictly Come Dancing finalist Layton Williams says the online trolls moaning about his previous experience have failed in their mission to ruin his time on the show.
The 29-year-old, partnered with pro dancer Nikita Kuzmin, says he already feels like a winner because he’s reached the very end. “I’ve managed to take it all on the chin and take the positives from all of it. No matter what happens, I feel like I wanna leave with my head held high feeling super proud. We’ve managed to do so much and it’s exceeded all of my expectations. To win would be the most unbelievable achievement.”
He said that he and Nikita were using the positivity from those who felt inspired by them as a duo - rather than the haters. “We’re using it as ammo, to say ‘we deserve to be here’. Being here is inspiring so many people to be themselves, to not necessarily feel that they need to fit the norm. That’s the biggest thing I’ll take from it.”
Nikita said that Layton fully deserves his place in the final, where he will face soap actors Ellie Leach, 22, and Bobby Brazier, 20. “I know he makes it seem very easy but we are putting in the hours. The choreography is really hard. There is nothing similar, technically, to anything he has done before. So we are working real hard and I hope people will just appreciate it and we hope to bring a bit of joy.”
Layton has been impressing the judges and viewers with his skills (BBC/Guy Levy)
However, some online trolls couldn't help but complain about him (Instagram/laytonwilliams)The West End star said he had tried to live up to the expectations of those who know his background. “I think people think I just rock up to the studio and say - let’s go. I wish they could come and see us. From the very beginning, I’ve been like, if people are going to expect a certain level, let’s give them that - and then some. But it’s been hard, the pressure of feeling like you have to do well.”
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He said the keyboard warriors were at their worst when he got high scores. “The funny thing is no one’s moaning or complaining when I’m rubbish. But when you are doing cute, people want to drag you down.”
Layton admitted to having been shocked by how much “noise” there had been about him. “I’m not the only person that’s been in this position, I don’t understand why it’s shock horror news because I’m not the first and won’t be the last.”
He insisted that he hadn’t let the criticism get to him. “The way we’ve been able to manage it has been my favourite part. It’s not defining my journey - that is what we’ve been able to do and who we’ve been able to inspire. The keyboard warriors - are a small percentage of the people out there - when I’m out shopping the love is crazy. No one is going to come up to me in the street and try and cuss me down.”
He said he would look back at his time on the show “and smile” adding: “I’m not going to be thinking about the trolls. It’s all love here. We’re so proud to have done everything we’ve done and I’ve found myself a new friend.”
He said that getting a message from Gene Kelly’s widow after the pair emulated his Fit as a Fiddle routine - which scored them 40 points on Saturday - felt “really special”. “It’s wild, isn’t it? My mum sent me that. It’s amazing - the fact that it’s just going to be there forever. I can’t wait to sit down one day and show the grandkids. Look what I used to get up to! It’s beautiful. That was a big tick.”
He said he was much more interested in representing those youngsters who feel like him. “I think it’s a first to have a male celeb that’s been so queer and excessively flamboyant. The stories that we get from young people is just the most heartwarming thing, it’s a ripple effect of love that’s being spread around. I feel like, in these times, people are grumpy and I’m like - cheer up! That’s my biggest achievement.
“When I go out sometimes I’m casual and sometimes I’m in full glam, I don’t want to put that side of me away just because I’m on national TV. I want to celebrate that.” In the final, the pair will perform a quickstep, Argentine tango and a show dance. “I feel we have won no matter what,” Nikita declared. “On friendship, on representation - I couldn’t have asked for more.”
'He’s getting it worse because he’s so good'
Layton 'is a sublime dancer' (BBC/Guy Levy)Layton Williams is a sublime dancer and he’s clearly learned a great deal over the past 13 weeks thanks to the tuition of his committed pro partner Nikita Kuzmin.
Yes, he’s a performer on the West End stage and he’s danced before. But Strictly is about Latin and ballroom, which don’t turn up in Billy Elliott or his other shows.
There have been plenty of Strictly contestants - and winners - who’ve been to stage school or in pop groups. He’s getting it worse because he’s so good. Which is daft.
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You only had to see his attempt at the Viennese Waltz in week two to know there is plenty he’s struggled with. Nikita says he’s seen a marked improvement over the months and Layton has worked tirelessly to master the challenging choreography he’s been handed. The winners in all this are the viewers, who get to watch a standard of dance rarely witnessed on the show before.
It’s great that all the hoo-har over Layton having too much previous experience has meant barely anyone’s remembered they are a same-sex couple. (How Strictly has moved on!)
So I’m with po-faced Craig, who actually got out of his chair on Saturday, such was his appreciation of their stellar Charleston.
That boy can dance! Isn’t that what really matters?
- Strictly Come Dancing: The Final, Saturday, BBC1, 7pm
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