Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin are yet to earn a 10 from Craig Revel Horwood (Picture: BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing viewers could not be more angry following Layton Williams’ Blackpool routine.
They’re not angry with him or his partner Nikita Kuzmin, don’t fret, but, once again, raging at one judge in particular.
West End star Layton, 29, has proven week in, week out that he’s a true dance icon, topping the leaderboard on several occasions and scoring countless 10s from the panel.
After scoring 39 last week with his Argentine tango – which fans were fuming didn’t get 40 – the nation was convinced this week would be his week for a perfect total.
Alas, it wasn’t meant to be.
The Bad Education actor performed a couple’s choice to the bop that is Ain’t No Other Man by Christina Aguilera and gave us scenes Strictly hasn’t seen its 20 series.
The pair danced an epic couple’s choice routine to Christina Aguilera’s classic tune Ain’t No Other Man (Picture: PA)
Layton and Nikita brought the fire with their pole routine (Picture: PA)
Dubbed ‘creative genius’ by head judge Shirley Ballas, the theatre star and his partner, 25, were praised for their pole-based routine which seriously brought the heat to the Tower Ballroom.
Layton – who even dyed his hair blonde for the occasion – looked incredible, with him and Nikita wearing matching bedazzled corsets as they flung themselves around the pole.
While three of the judges awarded the pair a 10 for the number, while Craig Revel Horwood gave them a nine, resulting in an overall score of 39.
Before they revealed their scores, Craig told Layton: ‘This is a little bit of a dilemma for me because I loved it, number one, but it wasn’t entirely in sync.’
The show’s resident Mr Nasty was absolutely drowned out by boos from both the audience and other cast members.
Craig wasn’t sure the dance was ‘in sync’ (Picture: BBC)
Layton took the comments on the chin (Picture: BBC)
He was emotional to have his mum in the audience at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom (Picture: BBC)
Once again, Layton and Nikita were one mark off a perfect 40 (Picture: BBC)
He went on: ‘That being said, you are one of the most incredible dancers that I have seen on this show over the 20 years I’ve been doing it.’
Head judge Shirley complimented the actor and said: ‘Well, you know, for me, it takes a lot, really, to impress me, but this really is creative genius.’
Layton’s fellow Strictly stars proceeded to chant ’40’, also up in arms that he didn’t get Craig’s 10 paddle.
Taking to social media after the shocking score, Strictly viewers expressed their fury, arguing that Craig ‘hates’ Layton or is even ‘jealous’.
One vented: ‘me when i fight craig over layton because PLEASE just give that boy the 40 he deserves’.
Even the other pros and celebs were stunned! (Picture: BBC)
Another blasted: ‘#Strictly absolutely sick of Craig tonight, Angela deserved a 10, Ellie deserved a 10, Layton deserved a 10. It’s a complete joke that he’s under marked all three of them!’
Others branded Craig a ‘bitter judge’ while one asked: ‘what does layton have to do for craig to give him a 10? backflip off of big ben and land in the splits?’
‘Don’t know who peed in Craig’s cornflakes this morning,’ tweeted one fan, while another said he is now simply ‘asking for too much’.
‘Craig hates Layton. There is no other explanation. That dance was SENSATIONAL!!!’, another penned.
Layton took the criticism well, though, and was incredibly emotional after performing the routine in honour of his mum, who was in the crowd.
Viewers argued that Craig ‘hates’ Layton for being so picky with his routines (Picture: BBC)
Speaking to host Claudia Winkleman, he said: ‘It’s so nice to see her in the audience. Hey, mum!
‘I feel like, just to get up there and to truly live authentically and just dance how you would dance… like, my mum would be on that pole with me, period! No joke!
‘She’s always let me be who I wanna be so I love you to bits and just hope I do you proud.’
Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturday and Sunday on BBC One and iPlayer.
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