The new season of I Kissed a Boy is breaking incredible new ground in its upcoming season.

Back in 2023, UK-based reality TV viewers were treated to the country’s first-ever same-sex dating show.

Upon its release, the series received widespread acclaim for its diverse and inclusive cast, its depiction of queer male culture and its soundtrack of pop bangers.

The success of “I Kissed a Boy” also led to the sapphic 2024 spin-off “I Kissed a Girl,” which received universal acclaim for its casting and representation of sapphic culture.

While the first entry of I Kissed a Boy was groundbreaking, the upcoming second season is set to be even more inclusive and representative of the LGBTQIA+ community.

On 30 April, BBC Three announced the 11 fresh “hotties” that will make their way to the iconic Masseria, including the franchise’s first-ever trans contestant, Lars.

Hailing from Wolverhampton, the dreamy 23-year-old is a hotel receptionist who loves football and is a “self-confessed cheeky chappy.”

According to his cast bio, he wanted to participate in the series to push himself to connect with people face-to-face without distractions like phones.

Lars is also a hopeless romantic with “maturity that belies his years,” which he attributes to his transition.

“I’ve been through 16 years of my life as a girl. It’s aged me, but in a good way,” he told the BBC.

With a mature mindset and the knowledge he gained from his first love and heartbreak, Lars is ready to take off the shackles of singledom, exclaiming, “The missing piece of the puzzle is a man!”

Lastly, Lars reflected on being the first trans cast member in the I Kissed… franchise and the importance of authentic LGBTQIA+ representation.

“I Kissed a Boy isn’t just a fun reality TV show that we all know and love – it is a celebration of queer love in all its forms. And I am honestly so proud to be the first trans person on the show,” he said.

“Growing up, I never saw stories like mine reflected on screen, so to be a part of something that embraces and normalises LGBTQ+ relationships means the absolute world to me. It’s messy, it’s joyful, it’s real, and it is exactly the kind of representation we need.”

Like its first entry, I Kissed a Boy season two will see the 11 contestants paired up and kissing the moment they meet.

Throughout the series, the boys will decide whether to stay with their current partner through dramatic “kiss-offs,” or pursue someone new — including incoming bombshells.

Australian pop icon and longstanding LGBTQIA+ ally Dannii Minogue is returning as Cupid, while Laurence Olivier Award-winning star Layton Williams will reprise his narrator role.

The first two episodes of I Kissed a Boy season two are scheduled to premiere on 11 May (Sunday) and 12 May (Monday) at 9:00 pm on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer.

To get the full scoop on the entire cast, click here!

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BBC Three is serving up another “hot queer summer” with I Kissed a Boy season two — and we’ve got your first look at the new cast.

Featuring the return of Australian pop icon Dannii Minogue as Cupid — and Laurence Olivier Award-winning star Layton Williams as narrator — the new season introduces 11 fresh “hotties” to the iconic Masseria, including the franchise’s first-ever trans contestant!

Echoing the format of both the original series and its sapphic spin-off I Kissed a Girl, season two kicks off with contestants paired up and kissing the moment they meet.

Throughout the series, the boys will decide whether to stay with their current partner through dramatic “kiss-offs,” or pursue someone new — including incoming bombshells.

The first season of I Kissed a Boy premiered in 2023, making history as the UK’s first-ever same-sex dating show. It was praised for its diverse and inclusive cast, authentic portrayal of queer male culture and a soundtrack stacked with iconic pop bangers.

Minogue also earned widespread acclaim for her hosting skills, unwavering allyship and — of course — her impeccable wardrobe.

Its success led to the aforementioned spin-off I Kissed a Girl, with YouTuber and comedian Charley Marlowe replacing Williams as narrator.

Like the flagship series, it made history as the UK’s first dating show to feature exclusively lesbian and bisexual women, earning praise for both its casting and depiction of sapphic culture.

With the retrospective out of the way, let’s meet the boys!

Scroll down for photos and info on the 11 contestants of I Kissed a Boy season two — plus their quotes, courtesy of BBC Three.

Adam

Age: 27
From: Reading
Occupation: Marketing and brand manager

“How can I even explain Dannii? Icon. She’s a beacon of light, who made me feel so safe, seen and celebrated.”

Aron

Age: 27
From: Croydon
Occupation: Civil Servant and cheerleading coach

“I’m beyond proud to be a part of IKAB. The show is quite literally history in the making. The experiences of queer people aren’t a monolith, and this show peels the layer to show the ways, and celebrate, our unique differences while also recognising the thing that unites us, our queerness.”

Callum

Age: 27
From: St Leonard’s on Sea, Hastings
Occupation: Administrator

“I am so proud to be a part of the show, it’s so much more than just a dating show which is something I realised whilst actually being on it. Younger me would have found navigating my sexuality so much easier if I had a show like IKAB to watch.”

Jack D

Age: 26
From: Glasgow
Occupation: Hospital Pharmacist

“Expect the unexpected is all I can say. Things changed by the hour in the messy massy, so you’ll be seeing a lot of drama. Expect a lot of important conversations as well.  But mainly, expect to see a group of queer guys having a verrrryyy gay old time and having a laugh!”

Jack S

Age: 22
From: Wigan
Occupation: Banking advisor

“As cliched as it sounds, what I love the most about IKAB is the friendships I’ve made. I’ve got proper cool queer mates now who I wouldn’t change for the world. I won.”

Jas

Age: 27
From: Glasgow
Occupation: Finance Analyst

“I Kissed a Boy is so much more than just kisses and I’m glad to have shared my story on such an amazing platform. Representation is and always will be important.”

Jordan B

Age: 25
From: The Lake District
Occupation: Retail store manager

“One thing that’s always guaranteed with Danni is that she will serve you a look to start, a twist for main, but love for dessert.  Danni was like a fairy godmother that helped us all try to find love on a path that’s anything but straight. She’s an icon and I love her.”

Jordon R

Age: 27
From: Leeds
Occupation: Sales manager

“I Kissed a Boy is not just a dating show. It’s where topics are discussed and addressed and represented by people who have lived through different challenges within their queer lives.”

Lars

Age: 23
From: Wolverhampton
Occupation: Hotel receptionist

“I Kissed a Boy isn’t just the fun reality TV show that we all know and love – it is a celebration of queer love in all its forms. And I am honestly so proud to be the first trans person on the show. Growing up, I never saw stories like mine reflected on screen, so to be a part of something that embraces and normalises LGBTQ+ relationships means the absolute world to me. It’s messy, it’s joyful, it’s real and it is exactly the kind of representation we need.”

Rory

Age: 22
From: Galway, Ireland
Occupation: Mental Health Support Worker

“Being so self-critical and ashamed of my sexuality as a teenager in Ireland, going onto I Kissed a Boy was such a full-circle moment for me and my emotional development, and I got to do it alongside a bunch of hotties! J’adore.”

Ruben

Age: 24
From: London
Occupation: Artist and designer

“What I loved most about my time in the masseria is that the world is built for straight people, but I got to live in a world built for gay people! Experiencing gay fantasy land where you can feel safe and comfortable to express yourself in any way you want is something I would recommend to any member of the alphabet army.”

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If you thought panto season was over, you’d be wrong. There’s camp, and then there’s the ridiculously flamboyant off-Broadway smash hit Titanique, which has sailed into London for 2025, docking at The Criterion Theatre this week.

It’s as if the show’s writers collectively agreed “we’re going to give the gays everything they want” – which of course we’re totally on board with. The concept itself is ludicrous in its own right: this is absolutely not a documentary-style retelling of the Titanic disaster. Instead, it’s a pastiche of the film, told from the perspective of Celine Dion, who was, for some reason, on board the Titanic during its voyage and is still alive today to tell the tale (suspend your disbelief). Throw in a whole host of great tunes, queer storylines, a healthy dose of innuendo, and recent Strictly finalist Layton Williams playing the role of The Iceberg, and you’ve got the ingredients for London’s gayest show.

We already had a reasonable idea of what to expect – we caught Titanique last year at New York’s Daryl Roth Theatre – though we’re pleased to report that there have been some updates for the London production. More Americanised references have been substituted for nods towards Gemma Collins, Cheryl Cole and Eastenders; while a few scenes have been updated with current cultural references, most notably to the Wicked movie. Whether they’re riffing off Cynthia Erivo’s “ahh-ahh-ahh” vocal run at the end of Defying Gravity or alluding to Jonathan Bailey’s eye-catching dance number, each reference is delivered perfectly by the talented cast.

And what talent there is in the cast – alongside Layton Williams (who displays some powerhouse vocals and impressive high kicks) we also have Rob Houchen as Jack and Jordan Luke Gage as the villainous Cal, Rose’s dastardly fiancé. We’ve seen both before and they’re excellent here, camping up each role delightfully and showcasing real vocal prowess. There’s a madcap performance from Lauren Drew playing Celine Dion, leaning into the star’s kookiness to wonderful comedic effect, while Kat Ronney really looks the part of Rose, and is an excellent singer too.

Titanique is a genuine delight, and it’s always a pleasure to see such a queer show in a major West End theatre. Part way through the musical there’s an absolutely absurd sketch involving Layton Williams’ Tina Turner-inspired Iceberg suddenly becoming RuPaul and hosting a ‘lip sync for your lifeboat’ showdown – we’re sure it would be entertaining for any audience member of any background, but it feels particularly geared towards our community, and we’re all for seeing more representation like this in such a prominent space. We hope this show goes on, and on (perhaps for 84 years).

GAY TIMES gives Titanique – 5/5

More information can be found here.

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Jeremy Irvine is heading to the dancefloor for his next film project.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Treadstone star has signed on to lead Chris Cottam’s upcoming British comedy, The Light Fantastic, which is based on a true story.

Additional cast members include Rupert Everett (My Best Friend’s Wedding), Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (Femme) and Layton Williams (Bad Education). 

Set in the seaside town of Blackpool, the film follows Jason (Irvine), a 30-something gay firefighter who decides to pursue his dream of becoming a professional ballroom dancer.

With the help of his no-nonsense instructor, Reynolds (Everett), Jason navigates the strict rules and traditions of the ballroom world while embarking on a heartwarming journey of self-discovery.

As of writing, Stewart-Jarrett and Williams’ roles have been kept under wraps.

Lastly, Dancing With the Stars professional Mark Ballas and his mother, Shirley – legendary dance champion and Strictly Come Dancing judge –have signed on to choreograph the film.

 

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A post shared by Jeremy Irvine (@jeremy.irvine)

In a statement to the aforementioned news outlet, producer Debbie Gray described the film as a “funny, uplifting, musical rom-com” that focuses on the power of dance.

“It is centred around the importance of love and acceptance in the face of bigotry, hate and fear, promising to be a glorious and upbeat film that will have everyone singing along and tapping their feet,” she added.

Shortly after the news was announced, Irvine took to Instagram to express his excitement for the film, writing: “Getting my dancing shoes on.”

Williams, who recently made waves for his stellar run on Strictly Come Dancing season 21, echoed similar sentiments in a separate post: “The Light Fantastic. Back to the Blackpool Ballroom!”

While a release date for The Light Fantastic has yet to be announced, the UK-based production is reportedly set to start in early 2025.

Stay tuned for more updates.

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For the first time ever, GAY TIMES’ 40-year archive of queer media will be exhibited for the general public.

In partnership with Outernet London, 40 Years of GAY TIMES: The Exhibition will feature more than 540 covers of GAY TIMES Magazine in a decade-by-decade timeline of the LGBTQ+ brand’s history.

It has been created to celebrate GAY TIMES’ 40th anniversary, starting with the first cover featuring the GAY TIMES masthead being produced in May 1984.

From GAY TIMES’ coverage of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, to pushing back against the anti-LGBTQ+ Section 28 throughout the 1990s, the covers tell the story of LGBTQ+ life and liberation at the end of the 20th century.

As more rights were won through the 00s and 10s, the archive shows how early 21st century progress was reported on by the world’s most popular LGBTQ+ title.

More recent covers celebrate the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community, through well-known figures in culture and activism.

The exhibit opens with GAY TIMES’ recently launched GT40 campaign, which spotlights some of the best LGBTQ+ talent in Britain today.

Featuring Munroe Bergdorf, Layton Williams, Rosie Jones, Bimini, Black Peppa, Molly McCann, Paris Lees, Lava La Rue and Jake Williamson, the segment invites viewers to enjoy 40 years of queer history.

The exhibition is soundtracked by a new remix of Bronski Beat’s iconic hit Smalltown Boy, which also celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. The new remix was produced by British DJ, ABSOLUTE.

The exhibition will run daily at Outernet London in the Now Trending space from June 6 until 1 July.

40 Years of GAY TIMES: The Exhibition will run alongside other LGBTQ+ exhibitions in the space, as part of Outernet London’s Pride Month programming.

Pride in London’s “We Are Everywhere” will run throughout June, ADOT and GALOP will run an uplifting Pride-filled campaign from 14-23 June, QueerAF and Trans+ History Week will spotlight the history of trans+ people from 17-30 June, and Classical Pride in partnership with ViiV Healthcare and GAY TIMES will host performances and events over multiple days from 3-6 July.

To see when 40 Years of GAY TIMES: The Exhibition will be screen at Outernet London, visit their What’s On schedule here.

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LGBTQIA+ icon Dannii Minogue has set the record straight on her sexuality. 

On 5 May, I Kissed A Girl, the queer female equivalent of last year’s history-making series I Kissed a Boy, is set to premiere on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer. 

In the same vein as its predecessor, the first episode introduces 10 contestants who will be matched up and, upon meeting each other for the first time, share a kiss.

Throughout the course of the show, the contestants will decide whether they want to stay with their current partner via a series of “kiss-offs” or match with someone new.

Minogue returns to her role as Cupid, while TikTok star and comedian Charley Marlowe steps in as narrator, taking over for Layton Williams. 

On 1 May, the ‘I Begin To Wonder’ artist participated in a massive Q&A to chat about all things I Kissed A Girl.

However, the next day, multiple news outlets claimed that Minogue came out as queer during the event. 

According to a report from The Mirror, the ‘All I Wanna Do’ artist reportedly said, “I identify as queer in a weird way” while she discussed the lingo used by queer women. 

The publication also recalled a moment in which Minogue was asked about her feelings for the contestants.

“You girls are hot. You know it. I love it. I’m here for it. Is that an answer?” she said in response. 

Shortly after the news made headlines, Minogue took to Instagram to shut down the “coming out” reports.

“Had such a great night at the screening of I Kissed A Girl this week. What a wonderful Q&A with @CatherineBohart. The whole night was filled with fun and laughter celebrating the first cast of IKAG and talking about my role as host and eternal ally to the LGBTQIA+ community,” she wrote. 

 

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A post shared by Dannii Minogue (@danniiminogue)

“I have been lucky enough to know and work with the queer community most of my life, and I can’t wait for Sunday night. It’s all about girls who like girls, bring it on!

“To clarify, there was no breakdown and I was not making an announcement that I’m a lesbian or queer, I’m straight and in a long term hetero relationship.” 

Minogue went on to say that her words were taken out of context and used for clickbait purposes, highlighting that the host even addressed her as a “straight woman and ally” during the event. 

Toward the end of her post, the ‘Baby Love’ singer called on fans to redirect their attention from the false stories to the groundbreaking history the show is making.

“Here’s to the first series of I Kissed A Girl, and let’s not let this distract from this incredibly important series for lesbian, bisexual and queer women’s representation on TV,” she said. 

It wasn’t long before fans flocked to Minogue’s comment section with supportive comments and praises of her allyship. 

One person wrote: “Love you Dannii. Such a shame things have been taken out of context for clickbait, but as usual they’ll write whatever rubbish that will sell a story.”

Another fan echoed similar sentiments, commenting: “We knew your words had been twisted. Thank you for your decades of solid gold allyship. We love you, Dannii!” 

For more information about the I Kissed A Girl contestants, click here. 

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Sapphics, rise! The BBC has unveiled the 10 contestants competing on I Kissed a Girl.

The queer female equivalent of last year’s I Kissed a Boy, which memorably made history as the UK’s first-ever same-sex dating series, it is set to premiere on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer from Sunday 5 May.

In the same vein as its predecessor, the first episode of I Kissed a Girl introduces 10 contestants who will be matched up and, upon meeting each other for the first time, share a kiss.

Throughout the course of the series, the contestants will decide whether they want to stay with their current partner via a series of “kiss-offs” or match with someone new.

Australian pop icon Dannii Minogue returns to her role as Cupid, while TikTok star and comedian Charley Marlowe will replace Layton Williams as the narrator.

In a statement, Marlowe celebrated being involved in the “queerest thing I’ve ever seen”: “It just doesn’t feel real.

“I’m such a lucky little lesbian and am so grateful to have this opportunity. It’s also UNREAL to have my loud northern voice blaring throughout the series.”

Minogue also commemorated the announcement, as well as Lesbian Visibility Week, with a short teaser revealing the cast, which you can view here.

You can check out the 10 cast members, as well as the first new arrival, below!

Abbie

Age: 24

From: Brighton

Occupation: Makeup and hair stylist

“What I loved most about the show was how comfortable I instantly felt around all the girls, in a judgement free environment, allowing myself to be vulnerable in conversations around sexuality.”

Amy

Age: 24

From: Surrey

Occupation: Social media manager

“We made Herstory! I can only imagine the sense of validation and belonging that me and my sisters would have felt had we had this kind of representation on our telly growing up (the closet was cramped in our house). From me, you can expect boots, boob and a boatload of banter.”

Cara

Age: 25

From: Ballycastle, Northern Ireland

Occupation: Aesthetician

“Coming from a small town in Northern Ireland, the rare chance to be in an environment exclusively full of queer women was an opportunity of a lifetime.”

Demi

Age: 23

From: Hemel Hempstead

Occupation: Publishing executive

“I was able to be one hundred percent unapologetically myself and I got to experience being part of a close-knit queer community.”

Fiorenza

Age: 22

From: Glasgow

Occupation: Drummer

“I’m very proud to be a part of the show, especially the first season for the girls! It should have existed years ago. We need more representation for lesbian relationships and what the dating life of a lezza entails as it’s such a unique and special thing that should be shown everywhere!”

Georgia

Age: 28

From: Hunmanby, North Yorkshire

Occupation: Professional footballer

“My goal was not to cry on television and I think I made it to day two. It’s amazing that there’s finally a show like this out there. It’s incredible representation and I’m just so glad I got to be a part of it.”

Lisha

Age:22

From: Caernarfon, Wales

Occupation: Psychology undergraduate

“The show is a step forward for the LGBTQ+ community and will hopefully help others have the courage to come out and be true to themselves.”

Meg

Age: 24

From: Goole, West Yorkshire

Occupation: Fire breather

“I loved the opportunity to meet so many beautiful queer girlies and being able to explore my type. I will definitely be bringing some heat to the show… in many ways.”

Naee

Age: 25

From: London

Occupation: Engineer

“I am proud to represent masculine-presenting women of colour who are gay. You do not see a lot of us on TV so I’m proud to be an addition to that little presented category. Viewers can expect their heads to be glued to the TV honestly. It is THAT good.”

Priya

Age: 23

From: Newport, South Wales

Occupation: Hotel customer service

“Being a Punjabi woman, I am so proud to represent my heritage and the South Asian community. This show embodies love, diversity and being unapologetically queer.”

FIRST NEW GIRL INCOMING:

Eva

Age: 22

From: Belfast

Occupation: Fashion graduate

“I used to search and search the internet for any WLW (women who love women) when coming to terms with my sexuality, so something like this is amazing.”

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Congratulations are in order for Heartstopper and Celebrity Big Brother star Bradley Riches.

On Tuesday (9 April), the actor announced his engagement to partner Scott Johnston, telling fans that he “never thought” he’d “find someone who gets me and loves me for me”.

“I have always struggled connecting my emotions in relationships and then @scottjohnston1.8 came,” he said. “I felt safe and accepted and most importantly loved.”

Accompanied by adorable photos of the pair during an embrace, surrounded by flower petals shaped in a love heart, Riches ended his post by declaring his ‘endless love’ for Johnston.

The announcement was met with swathes of support, with Heartstopper stars Corinna Brown and Bel Priestly offering their congratulations. Additional stars that showered them with love include Drag Race UK‘s Vanity Milan and Danny Beard, Celebrity Big Brother host AJ Odudu and Strictly Come Dancing finalist Layton Williams.

 

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A post shared by Bradley Riches (@brad_riches)

Riches memorably made his Heartstopper debut as James McEwan in season one, before taking on a more prominent role as the love interest of Isaac (Tobie Donovan) in season two.

He is expected to return in the forthcoming third season of Netflix’s acclaimed teen drama, which will premiere in October. (Visit here for everything you need to know about Heartstopper season three.)

Riches’ fame skyrocketed earlier this year as one of thirteen housemates for the long-awaited reboot of Celebrity Big Brother, where he placed sixth.

He also appeared in the second season of BBC‘s lauded slasher-comedy series Wreck. 

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Layton Williams has pushed back against the haters with another outstanding Strictly Come Dancing routine. 

Since the premiere of the show’s 21st season, the Bad Education star and his partner, Nikita Kuzmin, have delivered dynamic performances from their Grease-inspired Viennese waltz – which featured Williams in drag – to their sizzling Salsa routine.

While their run has been nothing short of iconic, the dancing pair found themselves in the bottom two for the first time during Week 10 of the competition.

Fortunately, they didn’t let their low scores get them down going into week 11.

For the musical-themed episode, Williams and Kuzmin turned up the heat with a romantic Paso Doble to Moulin Rouge!‘s ‘Backstage Romance’.

At the start of their performance, the pair are at the center of a large heart while their backup dancers evoke a sensual ambience. 

As the music builds, Williams performs various moves on Kuzmin, ranging from dips and leg extensions before the two strut down the stairs and execute the rest of the routine.

Of course, the iconic pair didn’t take long to deliver more epic dance moves across the stage as the jukebox song switched between Lady Gaga and Britney Spears lyrics. 

Toward the end of their performance, Williams and Kuzmin channelled their inner Santiago and Nini for one final lift and pose.

BBC

Like their previous performances, the duo were treated to rapturous applause and rave reviews from the judges. 

“It took me back darling to 1988 when I danced at the Moulin Rouge. However, it was not like that. That was fabulous!” Craig Revel Horwood exclaimed.

Motsi Mabuse praised Williams and Kuzmin for having a stellar comeback, stating: “I have to commend both of you. Because of all of this negativity you have been receiving and, to shine on week on week and coming back, never losing yourself. 

“Just remember you left your footprint here. You were here, and you were stunning.”

BBC

Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke echoed similar sentiments, with the former praising the two talents for displaying “first-class teamwork” and the latter labelling their Pasa Doble as the “best thing” they’ve done on the series so far. 

After reflecting on their performance with co-host Claudia Winkleman, the Billy Elliot star was finally treated to the judges’ scores – who all gave the duo 10s (40 points). 

Shortly after the episode aired, Williams celebrated his incredible achievement with a heartwarming statement on X (formerly known as Twitter). 

“10’s accross the board! Fighting back from the bottom 2 is rough, but what a perfect routine for it. All credit has to go to the most amazing dance partner & teacher ever – @kuzmin__nikita!” he wrote. “Think what you want about me, but give him his flowers plz.”

In an additional tweet, the beloved talent thanked all his fans and viewers for their encouraging messages and comments.

“Reading all these comments really gave me the boost to go out there and slay for the stageys, theatre fans & MT industry! I’ve been flying the flag for us all since day dot and hope I’m doing ya’ll proud,” he wrote. “All these memories warmed my heart. Here’s to making more soon.” 

The fact that it was Musicals week was even more special. Thank you @moulinmusicaluk for hosting us for the day and to all our amazing fans who’ve stuck by us ❤️ I see you xxxhttps://t.co/S4vsdDzclF

— Layton Williams (@LaytonWilliams) December 3, 2023

Check out Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin’s full Pasa Doble routine below.

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Layton Williams has served another outstanding and historic performance on the latest episode of Strictly Come Dancing.

For week five of the long-running competition, the West End talent and his partner Nikita Kuzmin turned up the heat with a sizzling Salsa routine to Johnny Pacheco & Celia Cruz’s ‘Quimbara.’

At the start of their performance, the pair are sitting in a colourful cantina before Kuzmin challenges Williams to a dance duel. 

As the music builds, the two talents execute intricate moves to one-up/impress each other before launching into their electric routine, which was full of twists, turns and dips.

Toward the end of their performance, Williams and Kuzmim channelled their inner Johnny and Baby from Dirty Dancing with an epic lift that stunned audience members. 

Like last week’s Cha Cha routine, the pair were treated to rapturous applause and rave reviews from the judges. 

“Listen, I went to Cuba, and I went to Club Tropicana, and I saw a show, and you guys, I could just steal you and put you in that show this incredible,” Motsi Mabuse exclaimed. 

Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke echoed similar sentiments, with the former describing the two talents as a “magical team” and the latter stating they were “pretty much perfect.”  

Lastly, Craig Revel Horwood also showered Williams and Kuzmin with praise but called on the Everybody’s Talking About Jamie star to point his toes more, resulting in playful boos from the crowd. 

After reflecting on their routine with co-host Claudia Winkleman, the Billy Elliot star was finally treated to the judges’ scores. 

Horwood started off the scores by giving the pair a nine, while Ballas, Du Beke, and Mabuse awarded them 10s, equalling 39 points.

Following their much-deserved celebration, Winkleman informed Williams and Kuzmin that they had broken another Strictly record. 

“I have a fact. We haven’t had a 39 in Week Five for 13 years,” she exclaimed.

In response to the 29-year-old’s impressive performance and history-making scores, fans flocked to social media to shower the I Hate Suzie star’s with praise. 

One fan wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter): Love watching @LaytonWilliams and @kuzmin__nikita dance. They are soooooooooo amazing. They are my 2nd favourite on Strictly Come Dancing. I love them.” 

Another viewer commented: “Absolutely love @LaytonWilliams and @kuzmin__nikita dance tonight those moves and lifts wow wow @bbcstrictly #Strictly.” 

Williams’ incredible Week Five performance comes a few days after he opened up the online abuse from conservative Strictly fans. 

“I’ve been trying to protect myself and not read as much, and truly think about the bigger picture,” he told The Guardian. 

He also reiterated that despite his background in musical theatre, learning the intricate routines choreographed by Kuzmin is still a challenge. 

“I’ve taken it on the chin; I get what everyone’s saying. But if you could be a fly on the wall in this rehearsal room, it’s not easy for me,” he said.

Check out Williams and Kuzmin’s full Salsa routine here or below.

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