Strictly showdances first look as Layton defies gravity with jaw-dropping move

15 December 2023 , 12:48

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The three couples will perform for the final time on Saturday

Layton Williams appears to defy gravity in a sneak peek at the hotly-anticipated showdances for the Strictly Come Dancing final.

West End star Layton, EastEnders actor and model Bobby Brazier, and former Coronation Street star Ellie Leach are the three celebrities battling it out on the dancefloor for the coveted Glitterball Trophy on Saturday 16 December. Each couple will be performing three routines live in front of millions of viewers, including the long-awaited show dance.

Layton, who is partnered with Nikita Kuzmin, teased a show-stopping routine in pictures released by the BBC show, as he and the Ukrainian pro dancer performed synchronised moves while wearing black bowler hats. In one photo, Layton is leaping into the air while doing the splits, as Nikita writhes around on the floor. The duo will perform their show dance to Friend Like Me by Ne-Yo, which suggests they’re giving the audience an Aladdin-themed routine, as the song is a Disney classic.

Layton will be delighting fans with their routine in the final

For their favourite dance, they’re performing an Argentine Tango, which scored them 39 last month, and fans are hoping judge Craig Revel Horwood can dust off his 10 scorecard for their routine on Saturday. Craig and his fellow judges Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke have picked the Quickstep to Puttin’ On The Ritz as their judges’ choice, and the flawless routine wowed viewers early on in the series.

West End star Layton has consistently impressed the judges

Soap star and model Bobby, who is partnered with Dianne Buswell, showed off his never-ending limbs in the sneak peek at the show dances, and the dancing duo teased a dramatic routine in the snaps. In one photo, he and Dianne are jumping in the air, with their legs perfectly poised in an effort to get full marks from the judges. Their show dance will be to the La La Land medley from the movie of the same name, which starred Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling and won a slew of Oscars.

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Bobby and Dianne are pulling out the stops for their show dance

Bobby and Dianne picked their couples’ choice routine as their favourite dance, which they will perform to the song This Woman’s Work. The judges have chosen their high-energy samba to Young Hearts Run Free for their pick, and fans will be keen to see Bobby shaking his hips on the dancefloor for the final time.

Current favourite to win the Glitterball Trophy is Corrie star Ellie, who is partnered with Vito Coppola. The couple have been the subject of rumours surrounding a possible romantic relationship between the two, but so far, they have yet to confirm if they’re dating away from the dancefloor.

Favourites Ellie and Vito are performing to Jennifer Lopez songs

In snaps from the rehearsals of their show dance, which will be performed to a Jennifer Lopez megamix, Ellie can be seen gyrating dramatically, while she and Vito co-ordinate hip thrusts. In one photo, she’s thrown her head backwards while keeping perfect form footwork, suggesting she’s well on her way to becoming this year’s Queen of Strictly. For their favourite dance, Ellie and Vito have picked their American Smooth, and the judges have picked the couple’s paso doble for the rumoured lovebirds to perform, which scored them 37.

The Strictly Come Dancing final is on BBC One at 7pm on Saturday 15 December

Emma Wilson