A contestant on the upcoming season of Strictly Come Dancing has requested being paired up in a same-sex coupling.
Last week it was reported that Bad Education star Layton Williams, who has also appeared in productions of Billy Elliot, Hairspray, Rent and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, was set to join the next season of the BBC series.
Now it’s been said the star has asked bosses if he can become part of the fifth-same-sex coupling on the show, following in the footsteps of pairings like Jayde Adams and Karen Hauer, and Richie Anderson and Giovanni Pernice, who competed in 2022.
‘This year everyone is hoping for a same-sex couple who can go the distance,’ a source has said after both same-sex couples were eliminated within the first few weeks of the competition last season.
‘Layton is a phenomenal performer and the pros will probably queue up to work with him,’ they added when speaking to The Mirror.
Professional dancers in the mix as a likely partner include Graziano Di Prima and Johannes Radebe.
Back in 2020 Nicola Adams and Katya Jones became the first ever same-sex pairing on the dancing series and were followed by John Whaite and Johannes the following year.
Layton, 28, found fame at just 12 when he was cast in the title role in Billy Elliot: The Musical and has also gone on to appear in The Cleaner and I Hate Suzie.
He also narrated the recent reality series I Kissed A Boy, which was hosted by Dannii Minogue.
However, his experience on stage has already been speculated to be set to ‘ruffle a few feathers’.
A source told MailOnline that while Layton was an incredible dancer and performer, his casting could cause some issues.
‘He is professionally trained and has extensive experience with learning difficult choreography, which many of the contestants, especially those from a sporting or political background, will at first find impossible,’ they said.
‘The show has been criticised in the past for recruiting contestants with a background in dance and this year will be no different as Layton is a star in his own right and known for being an impeccable dancer on stage.’
Other celebrities rumoured to be taking part this year include This Morning host Josie Gibson, former Love Island star Zara McDermott and even Wham! legend Andrew Ridgeley.
Angela Ribbon, 78, is also another name in the mix.
In the 1980s, the presenter first hosted Come Dancing, the show that provided inspiration to the BBC programme.
Metro.co.uk has contacted the BBC and representatives for Layton Williams for comment.
Strictly Come Dancing is streaming on BBC iPlayer.
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