‘They should have won’ say furious Strictly fans after final sparks new fix row
STRICTLY Come Dancing fans have claimed Layton Williams should have won the 2023 series after he topped the final leaderboard.
Coronation Street actress Ellie Leach, 22, lifted the glitterball trophy with Vito Coppola after taking the majority of the public votes on Saturday night.
She beat West End star Layton, 29, and EastEnders actor Bobby Brazier, 20, but had failed to secure the highest scores and praise from the judges.
Viewers took to social media and claimed Layton was "robbed" of the win, because the judges' scores don't count towards the result in the final.
One wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "Congrats ellie but we all know Layton should have won."
Another said: "Layton should have won! Deffo was robbed."
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As a third suggested: "Absolute FIX FIX, not deserved.`Layton should have won - what a travesty."
Devastated Ellie cried after she suffered a tumble during her second dance with Vito when they performed a series of complicated lifts.
Meanwhile, Anton Du Beke was full of praise for Layton and Nikita Kuzmin after their Argentine Tango to Tattoo by Loreen.
He said: "To be honest with you, you're showing off now!"
And Layton received excellent feedback from Motsi Mabuse, 42, who gushed: "I don't think we've ever had a dancer like you Layton, and I don't think we'll ever again have a dancer like you."
Layton has faced a hard time from critics during the series over his dance experience.
Speaking during the final, he thanked the viewers who kept voting for him in the competition.
He told host Claudia Winkleman: "I thought I'd have to be fighting for my place every week, so thank you for the people who have voted for me. Love wins."
He added: "If we won it would feel like a celebration, for peopel who feel like they don't fit in."
Layton also told his pro partner Nikita, who was spotted crying during the final: "I just want to say thank you for holding my hand throughout this journey.
"I couldn't have done it without you."
