05 October 2023 , 18:10
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Strictly Come Dancing star Neil Jones has spoken out about the show's fix claims as some viewers remain fuming that celebrities including Layton Williams and Angela Scanlon have a professional dance background.
Layton Williams had a successful career in musicals but prior to that, he has studied dance in a number of theatre school as a child. Meanwhile, Angela Scanlon danced with the O'Shea Irish Dance Company - and performed internationally with the group. But according to Neil, 41, who once again has not been partnered with a celebrity, those who have a backgeround in dance will still face their own challenges.
Strictly's Neil Jones wades in on show fix rowIn a recent interview Neil said: "It’s like saying that an Olympian could enter any sport and be able to do it. Well no, they can’t. Yes Layton is a performer, but Nikita has been working so hard with him on his technique. Don’t get me wrong Layton is good, so Nikita has his work cut out for him, but like Shirley said he needs to keep working on it.”
He continued to tell The Sun: "There was a man who was just here who is a dancer, and he comes and does dancing with us in Blackpool when we need really good commercial dancers. And he will tell you first hand that it is difficult to dance. If you created a TV show where you had to dance ballet, I would enter that show and would not win. What people need to realise is on Strictly there’s all different styles and techniques.”
But it looks as though former Strictly star James Jordan, who quit the show ahead of series 12 in 2014, after a fall out with judge Craig Revel-Horwood, does not share the same opinion. James waded in on the argument and told Hello magazine: "He is a fully trained, professional dancer. When they came out, you had essentially two professional dancers next to each other.
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"Let's not say, 'oh it's because (Layton's) really talented and has worked really hard'. Because that kind of belittles our dancing world that someone can come out and be that good after a week's training. You can't. It was probably one of my favourite dances I've ever seen on the show - but that's only because he's a professional dancer."
He firmly believes that it's not the fault of the celebrity as the blame lies with the show's selection process. He added: "Do I feel Strictly are going too far by bringing on professionally trained dancers? Yes. I would actually say to anyone thinking of doing Strictly, 'don't do Strictly unless you're dance trained in some shape or form because you don't have a chance'."
And it looks as though fans also share the same sentiment as James. One person took to Twitter to comment on Layton's performance. They wrote: "He’s a west end dancer since 12!!! He’s unbelievably good, played Billy Eliiott and MJ in Thriller, possibly better than the pro’s but ticks every box…." Another added: "The poor other contestants like 78 year old Angela are wasting there precious time to this box ticking bull s**** agenda." And a third said: "How is Layton Williams allowed to be on Strictly? He’s a professional dancer. Played the lead in Billy Elliott and Michael Jackson. Not fair."