EastEnders’ Michelle Collins slammed by Strictly fans as she wades into ‘unfair’ fix row
EASTENDERS’ Michelle Collins was slammed by Strictly Come Dancing fans after she shares her thoughts on the show’s ‘fix’ row.
The actress said it “wasn’t fair” that Layton Williams was taking part on the show due to his professional dancing background.
She shared her opinion in the comment section of a clip of Layton dancing with Nikita Kuzmin on the programme.
“Sorry, but he is a professional dancer it’s not fair ! I love him but he’s great already,” she wrote.
However, not everyone was impressed with her comment.
“he’s phenomenal!!!! His dancing background means nothing! He has no experience with any of these dances,” one wrote.
“He’s learning them from scratch like everyone else. People go on singing shows having had lessons and training, that doesn’t give them a head start from everyone else, they all have to go through the same process. I hope he wins, he’s just amazing,” they added.
“It would be boring with all les Dennis’s… Yeah he’s from a dancing background however has had to learn a new way of dancing,” a second wrote.
“my ex was in Matthew Bournes Swan Lake and teaches degree level dance including musical theatre. We went ballroom dancing for a year and he was useless and much worse than me. @laytonwilliams you are fabulous and I don’t get why people don’t understand that it’s different,” a third said.
Layton, who has starred in West End musicals, ruffled feathers from the first week after he and Nikita performed a Samba.
“He’s a west end dancer since 12!!! He’s unbelievably good, played billy eliiott and MJ in thriller, possibly better than the pro’s but ticks every box….” one wrote at the time.
“The Poor other contestants like 78 year old angela are wasting there precious time to this box ticking bull s**** agenda,” they added.
“Not fair, he’s actually a dancer,” a third chimed.
“How is Layton Williams allowed to be on Strictly? He’s a professional dancer. Played the lead in Billy Elliott and Michael Jackson. Not fair,” a fourth added.
“Get Layton Williams off @bbcstrictly he’s a professional dancer who has been at theatre school since he was 14 and performed in the West End, what a con. #strictly”
Although some defended Layton and Nikita, arguing: “Do the people whinging about Angela Rippon and Layton Williams on #StrictlyComeDancing having dance experience also complain to Tipping Point saying some of their contestants have used coin pusher machines before too?”
Layton first followed his performing arts talent when he studied street dance and drama at Carol Godby’s Theatre workshop in Bury.
He has also studied ballet at Centre Pointe, Manchester.
Layton was then awarded a scholarship to Sylvia Young Theatre School in Marylebone, London and stayed there until 2008.
He attended Broad Oak High School in Bury, and then attended the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.
Other recent stage credits include Rent, Hairspray The Musical and The Car Man.
Last year, the show was embroiled in a fix scandal as eventual winner Hamza Yassin’s dancing past was revealed.
X Factor singer Fleur East – who also had dancing skills prior to her stint last series – was also hit with fix claims.
The Sun has gone to the BBC for comment.