Layton Williams leads stars at the Bad Education screening

Layton Williams oozes glamour in a red sparkling shirt and matching trousers as he leads stars at the Bad Education screening ahead of the Strictly final

Layton Williams looked typically stylish as he led stars at the Bad Education screening at the Curzon Victoria on Wednesday.

The Strictly sensation, 29, who will appear in the show’s final on Saturday, exuded glamour as he donned a red sparkling shirt and matching red flared trousers.

The West End favourite donned black boots as he looked in his element striking a slew of poses down the lenses.

Layton flaunted his sculpted cheekbones with a bronze blush and rocked a nude lip gloss.

The dancer beamed for the camera as he appeared in great spirits, leading stars for the BBC Three screening.

Layton Williams looked typically stylish as he led stars at the Bad Education screening at the Curzon Victoria on Wednesday

The Strictly sensation, 29, exuded glamour as he donned a red sparkling shirt and matching red flared trousers

The West End favourite donned black boots as he looked in his element striking a slew of poses down the lenses

Other cast members of Bad Education reunited as stars took to the red carpet of the event, with young actors including Bobby Johnson, Laura Marcus, Ali Hadji-Heshmati, Asha Hassan, Charlie Wernham, Anthony J Abraham as well as Vicki Pepperdine.

BAFTA TV-nominated Vicki, 62, sported an olive knit vest with a multicolour shirt underneath, and teamed it with black flared trousers.

The comedy star joined the BBC Three show during the fourth season as Bernadette Hoburn, Abbey Grove School’s new headteacher.

Laura rocked a total black look with a top and midi skirt, paired with a matching jacket.

She rocked her ginger tresses in beach waves and accessorised with a heart-pendant necklace. 

Bobby opted for a camel bomber jacket and denim, keeping it cosy with Nike AirForce trainers.

Meanwhile Asha looked chic in a black buttoned dress and matching boots, accessorising with gold jewellery. 

British-Iranian star Ali opted for a brown jacket and denim, while Anthony rocked a navy sweatshirt as he showed off a happy grin.

Some of the young actors posed up altogether as the group beamed for the camera.

Set at the fictional Abbey Grove School in Hertfordshire, the series follows Wickers’ class of misfits, Class K, headed by eccentric headteacher Shaquille ‘Simon’ Fraser (played by Mathew Horne), and Wickers’ ploys to win the affection of crush Rosie Gulliver (Sarah Solemani).


Layton flaunted his sculpted cheekbones with a bronze blush and rocked a nude lipgloss

He appeared in great spirits, leading stars for the BBC Three screening

BAFTA TV-nominated Vicki, 62, sported an olive knit vest with a multicolour shirt underneath, and teamed it with black flared trousers

Laura rocked a total black look with a top and midi skirt, paired with a matching jacket

Bobby opted for a camel bomber jacket and denim, keeping it cosy with Nike AirForce trainers

Meanwhile Asha looked chic in a black buttoned dress and matching boots, accessorising with gold jewellery

British-Iranian star Ali opted for a brown jacket and denim

Anthony rocked a navy sweatshirt as he showed off a happy grin

Some of the young actors posed up altogether as the group beamed for the camera

As a top West End theatre star, Strictly finalist Layton has fallen victim to online trolls who say he is too experienced at dancing to be on the show.

The former Billy Elliot performer has hinted that the hate could have been brought on because of his multiracial background and the fact he is gay.

Layton, who is dancing with male professional Nikita Kuzmin, 25, says that the level of trolling has been ‘shocking’ and admits that while Strictly has featured same sex couples in the past, he is the first ‘queer’ contestant to fully express their ‘flamboyant’ personality on the ballroom floor.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s final, he said: ‘Obviously, I was aware of the fact that it might have noise, but I definitely did not anticipate how much it has been because I am definitely not the first person to be in this position and I don’t understand why it’s shock horror news because I’m not the first and won’t be the last, let’s keep it moving, you know?

‘From the very beginning, I’ve been like, cool, if people are going to expect a certain level, let’s give them that and then some.’ 

West End theatre star Strictly finalist Layton has fallen victim to online trolls who say he is too experienced at dancing to be on the show 

The former Billy Elliot performer has hinted that the hate could have been brought on because of his multiracial background and the fact he is gay

Williams, who is dancing with male professional Nikita Kuzmin, says that the level of trolling has been ‘shocking’ 

Layton – star of the 2021 movie Everybody’s Talking About Jamie – also claims that his critics only lambast him when he is getting high scores and that his social media quietened down during the weeks he received lower scores from the judges, such as when he danced the Viennese Waltz to There Are Worse Things I Could Do from Grease and was given just 28 points out of 40.

‘It has been hard, the pressure of feeling like you have to do well,’ said Williams who will on Saturday go up against Ellie Leach, 22, and Bobby Brazier, 20, in a bid to lift the Glitterball Trophy.

‘This is the funny thing, no one is going hard and moaning or complaining when I’m rubbish… remember the Viennese Waltz? I didn’t get many tweets that week did I! It’s only when you’re doing cute that people want to drag you down, which is fine, and we have managed to get around that.

‘It has not defined my journey, what has defined my journey has been who we have been able to inspire, not people that are keyboard warriors, they are just a small percentage.’

The trolling echoes 2018 when former Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts, 42, was vilified for being too much of a talented dancer.

However, in contrast to the online negativity, Layton says when he’s approached by Strictly fans in the street, he is shown a lot of love as he admits starring on one of the BBC’s most watched shows has increased his public profile.

He said: ‘When I am out in the streets honey, I was shopping on Sunday in Selfridges doing my thing and I was being approached and I was like, oh my God I’m on TV… the love is crazy, they really be coming up to me and nobody is coming up to me in the streets and try and cuss me down, do you know what I mean?

‘Honestly, I am taking from this and look back on my Strictly journey with a smile. It’s all love here. I have found myself a new friend so I’m happy.’

The Bad Education actor admits that while Strictly has featured same sex couples in the past, he is the first ‘queer’ contestant to fully express their ‘flamboyant’ personality 

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