Layton Williams has shut down claims he has an unfair advantage (Picture: PA)
Strictly Come Dancing 2023 hasn’t actually started yet, but one star is already keen to shut down the ‘fix’ claims.
Layton Williams was one of the first contestants announced as part of a stellar line-up for this series.
The Bad Education actor, 28, joins the likes of Amanda Abbington, Angela Rippon, Les Dennis, and Adam Thomas when the glitzy BBC dance show returns to our screens this autumn.
However, he’s already been accused of having an unfair advantage.
Given Layton’s performing background, some Strictly viewers believed he had ‘studied’ dance, which he was quick to deny before rumours could escalate.
Taking to Twitter, the Everybody’s Talking About Jamie actor responded to a tweet that read: ‘not a dance expert as such but I am a dancer and know for a fact he will have studied ballroom and/or latin to some degree’.
The West End star insisted he has had no professional ballroom or Latin training (Picture: Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock)
Layton wrote back: ‘Lemme clear up this *fact* real quick.
‘I had my 1st introduction to Ballroom & Latin class in rehearsals yesterday (along with the rest of the @bbcstrictly cast) and it was so much fun xxx’
A troll then tweeted him: ‘Here’s hoping you get dumped out week one.’
Putting them firmly in their place, though, Layton penned back: ‘No one gets voted out week 1 luckily’.
Layton has had a number of big roles throughout his career, having played the lead in Billy Elliot at the age of just 12.
He then went on to star in other stage productions including Hairspray and Rent.
Layton is best known for the likes of Bad Education, as well as Billy Elliot and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Picture: Ryan Miller/Shutterstock)
On the small screen, Layton played Stephen Carmichael in the Jack Whitehall comedy Bad Education, as well as starring in The Cleaner with Greg Davis, and I Hate Suzie.
But, despite already having some dance experience under his belt, Layton has admitted he’s ‘pretty nervous’ due to not being professionally trained.
It remains to be seen who Layton’s professional partner will be this series, but it was previously said that bosses were eyeing him up for the fifth same-sex coupling.
The first same-sex partnership on Strictly was Nicola Adams and Kayta Jones in 2020, who sadly never got a chance to shine for long as they had to withdraw due to Covid-19.
However, the following year, John Whaite and Johannes Radebe made it all the way to the final and finished in second place in a truly spectacular year for representation.
Nicola Adams and Katya Jones were the first same-sex pairing in 2020 – could Layton be part of another (Picture: BBC)
Perhaps he’ll follow in the sparkling footsteps of John Whaite and Johannes Radebe… (Picture: BBC/Guy Levy)
Then, in 2022, for the first time, we had two same-sex partnerships: Jayde Adams and Karen Hauer, and Richie Anderson and Giovanni Pernice.
A source recently said: ‘This year, everyone is hoping for a same-sex couple who can go the distance.’
‘Layton is a phenomenal performer and the pros will probably queue up to work with him,’ they added to The Mirror.
Only time will tell…
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and iPlayer later this year.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : Strictly star Adam Thomas all smiles as he celebrates 35th birthday following arthritis diagnosis
MORE : Krishnan Guru-Murthy reveals ‘dodgy’ heart condition struggle during Strictly rehearsals
He’s having none of it.