November 7th 2024.
There's been a lot of talk about changes coming to Strictly Come Dancing, and it seems like five of the pro dancers might be on the chopping block for the next series. Layton Williams, who reached the final last year with Nikita Kuzmin, is showing his support for his fellow dancers amid the rumors. The 30-year-old actor, best known for his role in Bad Education, recently reunited with Nikita for a tribute show to the late dancer Robin Windsor. Layton has formed a close bond with Nikita and is now backing other pro dancers who are facing a possible shake-up.
The five pros in question are Neil Jones, Karen Hauer, Nadiya Bychkova, Johannes Radebe, and Gorka Marquez. According to reports from The Sun, they are all in danger of losing their spots on the show. When asked about the rumors, Layton shared his thoughts with Metro, saying, "I think a show is always evolving. We never really know what the producers' decisions are. As performers, we know that when we step into something, we are self-employed and we never know when our next gig will be."
He continued, "But I would like to stand on the side of the pros. The ones who are amazing and kind, they are becoming their own entities." Layton pointed out two pros, Jojo and Gorka, who he believes will have continued success outside of Strictly. "Everyone has their own things going on, so fly my loves, a show doesn't define you," he added.
Layton and Nikita reached the final last year. But now, Layton is taking on a very different challenge - playing the iconic role of an iceberg in the musical Titanique. He promises to bring joy to the audience with his performance, saying, "We are in a crazy world at the moment, and I think everyone just needs a little bit of joy. And Titanic is going to give you that." He also joked, "My iceberg b***h is basically a mix between Tina Turner and RuPaul. That's the energy, you better lip sync for your life boat, period."
In addition to his role in Titanique and his recent run in Cabaret, Layton also manages to find time to support his Pros From The Shows program. The bi-monthly workshops, now available in London, Manchester, Durham, Norwich, and Edinburgh, provide children and adults with an opportunity to learn about West End productions. Layton explains, "I wanted to set it up so it could be something that people could fall into, especially in my area. When I was growing up, we didn't have people from the shows come into our town to give us these experiences."
He continued, "Basically, it's just an opportunity for like-minded young people to be surrounded by others who love show tunes, dancing, singing, and acting. It's a safe space without judgment." Layton believes that the program not only changes kids' lives and prepares them for the future, but also reminds adults that life is still for living. "We're just trying to get the word out there and let people know about it because it's special," he added.
For more information about Pros From The Shows, visit their website. And if you're interested in seeing Layton in Titanique, tickets are now on sale for the show's run at the Criterion Theatre from December 9 to March 2025.
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