Layton Williams slammed as a limelight hogger by Esther Rantzen
Strictly: Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin perform Argentine Tango
Layton Williams has been blasted for “hogging the limelight” in Strictly Come Dancing 2023. Dame Esther Rantzen has claimed the Bad Education actor “should never have been a contestant” in the BBC One show.
The 83-year-old, who took part in the dancing competition’s second-ever series, spoke out to suggest the performer, 29, has “denied” a non-dancer a place in this evening’s final. She went on to say the programme’s production team had “lost the plot” in offering Layton a spot in the celebrity line-up.
He will go head-to-head with fellow television stars Ellie Leach and Bobby Brazier in a matter of hours, performing once again with pro Nikita Kuzmin. In a letter to The Daily Telegraph, Esther wrote: “A professional dancer like the brilliant Layton Williams should never be given a role as a contestant in Strictly.”
She reiterated the claim Layton “hogs the limelight” in the Christmas special of BBC Three’s Bad Education, before suggesting Strictly was no different. The journalist continued: “As he has done since his first week in Strictly.
“The production team seems to have lost the plot this year by recruiting Williams.” Esther said Layton’s spot in the finale was “inevitable from week one”, despite him not taking the top spot on the leaderboard.
READ MORE Strictly pro addresses return to show as judge as Shirley Ballas talks US move
She added: “So a contestant who is not a professional dancer would be denied their place, and very sadly it was [Annabel] Croft.”
The latter, 57, alongside partner Johannes Radebe, was eliminated last Sunday, after finding herself in the dance-off against Bobby, 20.
Layton is best known for playing for playing the role of Stephen Carmichael in the television series Bad Education as well as his work in the West End.
One of his first jobs was playing the title role in Billy Elliot The Musical aged just 12, after training at the Billy Elliot Academy in Leeds.
Don’t miss…
Monty Don ‘ruthlessly’ insists he has ‘no regrets’ after stealing wife from pal[INSIGHT]
Matthew Perry’s cause of death confirmed to be drug related[LATEST]
Tom Cruise receives warning after rumours heโs โdatingโ Russian oligarch ex-wife[UPDATE]
- Support fearless journalism
- Read The Daily Express online, advert free
- Get super-fast page loading
He studied street dance and drama, and was awarded a scholarship to the Sylvia Young Theatre School.
His acting credits also include I Hate Suzie, The Cleaner and Beautiful People.
Meanwhile, Esther’s own turn in Strictly saw her get the boot third in the 2004 run.
The season was eventually won by Jill Halfpenny and pro Darren Bennett, who triumphed over Denise Lewis and Julian Clary.
Strictly Come Dancing 2023 concludes tonight at 7pm on BBC One.
Source: Read Full Article