Strictly Come Dancing star Layton Williams suspects he is scored more harshly by the judges than his fellow competitors.
The West End star, 29, has been at the centre of fix claims due to his dance background but has revealed he thinks the training is more of a hinderance.
Speaking to The Guardian, he confessed he thinks the judges score him with his musical theatre background in mind.
Yet he insisted: ‘I’m not sad about that – I want to rise to the challenge.’
Speaking about the backlash from viewers over his past experience, Layton added: ‘I’ve taken it on the chin; I get what everyone’s saying.’
Making moves: Strictly Come Dancing star Layton Williams suspects he is scored more harshly by the judges than his fellow competitors (pictured with pro partner Nikita Kuzmin)
Layton is known for playing the title role in the musical smash Everybody’s Talking About Jamie as well as starring in TV smash Bad Education.
MailOnline has contacted a Strictly spokesperson for comment.
Former Strictly pro James Jordan recently weighed in on the ongoing ‘fix row’ over trained dancers competing in the celebrity line-up.
The ballroom dancer, 45, who appeared as a professional on Strictly from 2006 to 2013, claimed that if celebrities don’t already have dance training, then they have ‘no chance’ on the BBC show.
Citing Layton as an example, James revealed his performance was among his ‘favourite dances ever’.
‘But this is only because Layton, who’s known for playing the title role in the musical smash Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, is a professional dancer’, James said.
Speaking to Hello! he explained: ‘He is a fully trained, professional dancer. When they came out, you had essentially two professional dancers next to each other.
‘Let’s not say, “Oh it’s because [Layton’s] really talented and has worked really hard”. Because that kind of belittles our dancing world that someone can come out and be that good after a week’s training. You can’t.
‘It was probably one of my favourite dances I’ve ever seen on the show – but that’s only because he’s a professional dancer.’
Harsh? Layton confessed he thinks the judges score him with his musical theatre background in mind (L-R Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke)
On stage: Layton is known for playing the title role in the musical smash Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and starring in TV’s Bad Education (pictured in 2016 as Angel in musical Rent)
James continued: ‘Do I feel Strictly are going too far by bringing on professionally trained l dancers? Yes.
‘I would actually say to anyone thinking of doing Strictly, “Don’t do Strictly unless you’re dance trained in some shape or form because you don’t have a chance”.’
Strictly has been dogged by cheating claims in recent years after signing up stars with obvious dance backgrounds, which many viewers feel gives them an unfair advantage.
Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts, Girls Aloud singer Kimberley Walsh, EastEnders actress Maisie Smith and X Factor star Fleur East have all been subjected to criticism for their pre-show dance experience.
However, many stage school trained participants have claimed their dance knowledge has counted against them in regard to the public voted.
Actress Molly Rainford, a former Sylvia Young pupil, blamed her stage school background for repeatedly ending up in the dreaded dance off.
Speaking out: Former Strictly pro James Jordan recently weighed in on the ongoing ‘fix row’ over trained dancers competing in the celebrity line-up
