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Layton Williams on Strictly Come Dancing © Ray Burmiston,BBC

Strictly star Layton Williams' love life and 'mystery boyfriend' explored

The theatre performer is partnered with Nikita Kuzmin on the show

Nicky Morris
TV and film writer
October 28, 2023
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Layton Williams has blown us all away with his incredible performances on Strictly Come Dancing over the past few weeks. The theatre star is partnered with Nikita Kuzmin in this year's series, and while viewers have praised their undeniable chemistry on the dance floor, what about Layton's real love life? 

Keep reading for all we know about his dating history and "mystery boyfriend"...

WATCH: Find out what Nikita Kuzmin and Layton Williams said during incredible Cha Cha Cha

Who is Layton Williams?

Layton Williams is an actor and theatre performer from Bury, Greater Manchester. 

The 29-year-old, who trained at Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Stephen Carmichael in the BBC comedy series Bad Education, which was revived earlier this year. Viewers may also recognise the star for his role in Sky Atlantic's dark comedy, I Hate Suzie Too.

Bad Education is back for season 5
Layton Williams in Bad Education

He's also known for his performances on the West End, including his starring role in Billy Elliot the Musical, which he landed at the age of 12.

More recently, he played the titular character in Everybody's Talking About Jamie, which ran from January 2019 until May 2022. 

Layton Williams' love life and relationship history

Layton likes to keep his relationships out of the spotlight, so not much is known about his love life. 

However, it is thought that the star is currently dating someone. Earlier this year, Layton took to his Instagram Story with a photo of a mystery man wearing a cap, dropping a heart emoji in the caption. 

Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin© BBC
Layton dancing the Cha Cha Cha on Strictly

Alongside a second photo, he wrote: "Yes that was a soft launch. No you ain't getting his @."

Since then, Layton has kept tight-lipped about his romantic life, so the identity of his rumoured boyfriend remains unknown. 

MORE: Everything Rose Ayling-Ellis has said about training with Strictly's Giovanni Pernice

READ: 10 celebrities who quit Strictly Come Dancing amid Amanda Abbington's shock exit

What has Layton Williams said about joining Strictly?

After being announced as part of the 2023 line-up, Layton expressed his excitement: "I've always been amazed by the magic Strictly Come Dancing brings. No matter what country I have found myself living in, I've never missed a chance to watch it.

"Joining it as a professional dancer is my big chance to make some magic on the most famous dance floor. I can't wait to give it my all," he added. 

Nikita Kuzmin & Layton Williams on Strictly Come Dancing © Ray Burniston
Layton Williams is partnered with Nikita Kuzmin on Strictly

Reacting to his Strictly pairing, Layton admitted that he didn't expect to be partnered with Nikita. "I was a little surprised, just because I didn't think I was gonna be with Nikita," he told the PA news agency. 

"But I feel like, even over the last few days, we've spent so much time together this week, we're raring to go."

Every Strictly Come Dancing winner so far

Rose and Giovanni with the Glitterball in 2021
Rose and Giovanni lifted the Glitterball in 2021
  • 2004: Natisha Kaplinsky (partner Brendan Cole)
  • 2004: Jill Halfpenny (partner Darren Bennett) 
  • 2005: Darren Gough (partner Lilia Kopylova) 
  • 2006: Mark Ramprakash (partner Karen Hardy) 
  • 2007: Alesha Dixon (partner Matthew Cutler) 
  • 2008: Tom Chambers (partner Camilla Dallerup) 
  • 2009: Chris Hollins (partner Ola Jordan) 
  • 2010: Kara Tointon (partner Artem Chigvintsev) 
  • 2011: Harry Judd (partner Aliona Vilani)
  • 2012: Louis Smith (partner Flavia Cacace)
  • 2013: Abbey Clancy (partner Aljaž Škorjanec) 
  • 2014: Caroline Flack (partner Pasha Kovalev) 
  • 2015: Jay McGuiness (partner Aliona Vilani) 
  • 2016: Ore Oduba (partner Joanne Clifton) 
  • 2017: Joe McFadden (partner Katya Jones)
  • 2018: Stacey Dooley (partner Kevin Clifton)
  • 2019: Kelvin Fletcher (partner Oti Mabuse)
  • 2020: Bill Bailey (partner Oti Mabuse) 
  • 2021: Rose Ayling-Ellis (partner Giovanni Pernice) 
  • 2022: Hamza Yassin (partner Jowita Przystał)
  • 2023: Ellie Leach (partner Vito Coppola)

Layton Williams' Strictly journey so far

Layton has consistently received high scores from the judges, and even topped the leaderboard with the first nines of the series in the second week of the competition. Here are all of his scores so far:

Week One: Samba (7+8+7+7) = 29

Week Two: Quickstep (9+9+9+9) = 36

Week Three: Viennese Waltz (7+7+7+7) = 28

Week Four: Cha Cha (9+10+9+9) = 37

Week Five: Salsa  (9+10+10+10) = 39

Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin© Guy Levy
Layton has impressed the judges week in, week out

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