Strictly star Layton Williams to be first male celeb to dance in a dress

19 August 2023 , 19:04

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Layton wears a gown on the red carpet (Image: Getty Images)

Layton Williams plans to sparkle as brightly as the Strictly women when he ­becomes the first male contestant to hit the dancefloor in a dress. The West End star, 28, who has asked to be paired with a man, will also appear in male outfits. And sources say BBC bosses are thrilled Layton will be breaking new ground on the show.

One said: “Layton made it clear very early on that he didn’t want to be pinned down to just wearing male costumes. “He wanted his Strictly outfits to reflect different sides of his personality and everyone fully supports him on that. So he will have a chance to wear Strictly dresses, as well as the men’s sharp suits, when he performs. There are some really exciting looks in there. Layton can’t wait to get started.”

Layton – the first stage actor cast as Billy Elliot – told last year how taking on the lead role in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie helped him embrace his love of glamour. He said: “I was looking at pictures of myself on the red carpet from the Jamie movie premiere and I thought, ‘Hmm, would I, as Layton, have felt comfortable wearing a gown to a premiere if I hadn’t explored my sense of self?’ I’ve always ­wanted to rock the heels, the gowns, the dress… and now I just love it.”

Layton Williams strikes a pose in another stylish outfit (Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty Images)

In 2020, Olympic boxing champ Nicola Adams and pro Katya Jones made Strictly history when they became the first same-sex pairing on the show – but the duo were forced to quit early because of Covid. The following year, Bake Off winner John Whaite and pro Johannes Radebe were all-male runners-up on the show. In 2022, former Strictly winner Giovanni Pernice danced with radio DJ Richie Anderson. And in the same year comedian Jayde Adams – who was paired with Karen Hauer – performed in both male and female outfits.

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