![Karen Gillan stuns fans with surprise pregnancy reveal at Toronto Film Festival Karen Gillan stuns fans with surprise pregnancy reveal at Toronto Film Festival](https://cms.virginradio.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/web-karen-gillan-pregnant-getty.png?w=920&h=518&crop=1)
Doctor Who and Marvel star debuts baby bump in glamorous red carpet appearance.
Virgin Radio
14 Dec 2023, 08:54
Credit: BBC
Strictly Come Dancing finalist Layton Williams has opened up about how the constant internet attention throughout his dancing journey hasn’t impacted his time on the show.
Layton and pro-partner Nikita Kuzmin will hit the dance floor one final time on Saturday (16th December) to battle it out for the glitterball trophy against Bobby Brazier with Dianne Buswell and Ellie Leach with Vito Coppola.
The Bad Education star’s time on the series has been pitted with plenty of social media criticism after viewers claimed he had an advantage in the competition due to his history on the West End. He previously starred in Billy Elliot the Musical as well as Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.
While at the Strictly Come Dancing finalists press conference, Layton admitted he was “aware” that people might pick up on his performing past, but didn’t anticipate how much trolling for it he would get.
“I’m not the only person that’s been in this position,” he told virginradio.co.uk and other press. “So I don't understand why it's shock horror news, because I'm not the first, I won't be the last. Just let's keep it moving, but the way that we've been able to manage it, it's been my favourite part.”
When asked if the internet noise has impacted his time on the show, Layton continued: “It's not defined my journey, that's one thing I'll say. What's defined my journey is what we've been able to do. What's defined my journey is who we've been able to inspire, not people that are keyboard warriors, because they're just like, a percentage.
“I would like to say a small percentage of people out there, the majority of people…when I'm out in the streets, I was shopping on Sunday and I was in Selfridges doing my thing. No one's going to come up to me in the streets and try to cut me down.”
The stage star went on to admit that he’s planning on looking back on his Strictly journey and “smile”.
“I'm not going to be thinking about my trolls,” he elaborated. “It's all love here, we keep on moving, whatever happens in the final happens, but we are so proud of everything we've done.”
On what will define his time on the Strictly Come Dancing floor, Layton admitted representing the LGBTQ+ community on a national TV series will be the highlight.
He explained: “The biggest inspiration really is the people that it's inspiring, what we're managing to do as a duo and kind of using this ammo to be like, we deserve to be here.
“Being here is inspiring certain people to be themselves, to not necessarily feel like they have to fit along. I feel like I'm really proud. That's the biggest thing I'll take, not what people's opinions are. Because at the end of the day, it's not really... I've kind of managed to take it on the chin.”
Strictly Come Dancing: The Final will air live on Saturday 16th December at 7.00pm, on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Advertisement
Doctor Who and Marvel star debuts baby bump in glamorous red carpet appearance.
The legendary Rocket Man singer opens up about his recovery while attending the premiere of a new...
Amidst criticism of the film's portrayal of domestic abuse, the actor urges fans to focus on the...
Doctor Who and Marvel star debuts baby bump in glamorous red carpet appearance.
The legendary Rocket Man singer opens up about his recovery while attending the premiere of a new...
Amidst criticism of the film's portrayal of domestic abuse, the actor urges fans to focus on the...
Advertisement