When Strictly Come Dancing returns next month, Layton Williams is set to make herrrstory.
The West End and Bad Education star has previously stated that he will be matched with a male professional, but Williams, 28, will be breaking new ground.
While the lineup has certainly piqued our interest, Layton will be the first male contender to enter the stage in a gown.
According to insiders, he’ll be alternating between traditional male attire and gowns on a weekly basis.
‘Layton made it clear very early on that he didn’t want to be pinned down to just wearing male costumes,’ an insider told The Mirror.
‘He wanted his Strictly outfits to reflect different sides of his personality and everyone fully supports him on that.’
‘He will have a chance to wear Strictly dresses, as well as the men’s sharp suits, when he performs,’ they added.
‘There are some really exciting looks in there. Layton can’t wait to get started.’
Layton had his big break in the West End adaption of Billy Elliot, before joining Jack Whitehall’s Bad Education and appearing in the main role in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, about a youngster who wants to be a drag queen.
It was the later show that truly inspired him to embrace his glitz.
‘I was looking at pictures of myself on the red carpet from the Jamie movie premiere and I thought, “Hmm, would I, as Layton, have felt comfortable wearing a gown to a premiere if I hadn’t explored my sense of self?”
‘I’ve always wanted to rock the heels, the gowns, the dress… and now I just love it.’
Olympic boxer Nicola Adams and Katya Jones were the first same-sex pair to compete on Strictly in 2020, but they were forced to leave after the pro dancer caught Covid.
Bake Off champion John Whaite followed in 2021, reaching the final and ‘falling in love’ with Johannes Radebe.
In 2022, radio DJ Richie Anderson performed with Giovanni Pernice, and Jade Adams performed with Karen Hauer.
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One in September.
