04 December 2023 , 14:11
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Despite being handed a free pass to the Strictly Come Dancing semi-final, favourite Layton Williams has been dealt a crushing hand by BBC bosses.
The 29-year-old and pro dance partner Nikita Kuzmin face the Rumba and the Charleston - and fans of the show know they are some of the most demanding routines going. The duo survived the last dance-off after being voted to stay by Craig Revel-Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton du Beke.
The public vote was cancelled this week when all four of the remaining quarter finalists were put straight through to the semis following Nigel Harman's exit from the competition. But Layton's task has got harder after hearing what he'll be preparing for in the days ahead.
Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin have found out some big news (BBC/Guy Levy)
It's the tricky Rumba and the Charleston next weekend for the pair (Instagram/laytonwilliams)The West End star, Ellie Leach, Annabel Croft and Bobby Brazier were sent straight through to next week's show and fans fear Layton has been given the worst possible selection. One on social media even went as far as saying it has been a 'death sentence' for Glitterball chances in years gone by.
One wrote: "A Layton and Nikita Rumba and Charleston, that is literally all I could have wanted, just hope this rumba isn't a death sentence like it is for so many other contestants. If done right I think it could be really beautiful."
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Despite some viewers praising his dance-off performance as "creative genius", others were taken aback by the pole element of the routine and last week Layton has had his say. The former Bad Education star shut down critics with a simple three-word question, as he asked trolls: "Why shouldn't we?"
When asked about criticism from former Strictly professionals Brendan Cole and James Jordan over a pole-based routine on last week's episode of the BBC One show, Layton said: "I feel like we've always come out and kind of like done something potentially a little bit more out there pushing the boundaries... we've thrown in this and that... and there's always an element of surprise. Why shouldn't we be swinging from poles and living our best lives? It went down pretty (well) if you ask me so I'm really proud and I stand by it, it's also a couple's choice. Get into it."
Meanwhile, Nikita said the dance had "nothing more to it" than swinging around a pole and dancing. He added: "At the end of the day, we're just two boys dancing together and we are having fun, we're trying to bring a show, and well, if somebody doesn't like this, it's absolutely fine."
Layton also said people referencing his background performing in the West End was "disrespectful" to Strictly's professional dancers, who are "unbelievable" performers. He explained that the hardest part of competing on the series has been "the noise and the chaos and the silly questions and the silly assumptions" that he has had to deal with.