24 September 2023 , 13:03
830
0
Strictly' Come Dancing's live launch on Saturday night saw a fall on viewers from the opening show last year.
Figures have revealed 6.6million viewers tuned in this weekend, compared with 6.8million in 2022, while the 2021 opening show was seen by 7.9million. The figures drop comes after some fans questioned if there were too many "professional" celebrities on the line-up this year.
West End star Layton Williams has been accused of having an unfair advantage due to his extensive performing experience. Layton began his career in the production of Billy Elliot at the age of 12, and since then, has landed roles in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Hairspray!, Rent, and Thriller Live! Layton also attended the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.
He's by no means the only celeb this year to have been trained professional or performed dance on a stage before with Angela Rippon and Nigel Harman also entertaining audiences.
Strictly was watched by an average of 6.6million on Saturday (PA)Actor Nigel topped the leaderboard on Saturday after he closed the programme with a dramatic paso doble. EastEnders star Bobby Brazier, Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington and former Coronation Street actress Ellie Leach all finished joint second with a score of 29, alongside Bad Education’s Layton Williams.
Strictly's Molly Rainford and Tyler West fuel romance rumours while on tour
During Saturday's show, judge Anton referenced some controversy, telling Layton: "I know you have previous dance experience but that's very different from what we do here especially when you're tackling a dance like samba with an enormously difficult technique.
"What you need to work on are your feet, they are a bit turned in. It goes up through the legs. So you start with the basics and it will filter up. From the waist up it's extraordinary and you're quite magnificent."
But it was over on X, formally known as Twitter, that Strictly viewers couldn't help but disagree, with one saying: "Not ok. I will not vote even 1x for this duo, because Layton has had a lot of professional dance experience. It robs all the other very worthy contestants of scores. Bad decision Strictly."
While another said: "Strictly should be about people like Angela Rippon not Layton Williams. Don't get me wrong, Layton is a fabulous West End performer but he has so much more dance experience. It should be about those with none or minimal getting noticeably better week on week."
A third fumed: "Layton has an unfair advantage... got dance experience and is used to performing in front of a live audience." As another commented: "Clearly Layton has dance experience." None of the contestants will go home on the first weekend, instead their scores will be carried over to week two when the first dance off will be held after the couples perform a second time.