Layton Williams broke his silence about his Couple's Choice routine from Blackpool Week alongside pro partner Nikita Kuzmin.
The duo topped the leaderboard in joint-first alongside Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola after bagging a near-perfect score of 39 while Angela Rippon was the unfortunate celeb who made a tearful exit.
Only Craig Revel Horwood refused to give Williams and Kuzmin a 10 after he highlighted the pair weren't "in sync" - although he did admit he "loved" the routine.
However, the risque nature of the routine left a number of BBC viewers less than impressed as several took issue with the use of a pole and the racy dance as a whole.
Much of the outrage stemmed on X, formerly Twitter, including from one fan who penned during the show: "The pole dancing was awful for Blackpool, how exactly that linked to Layton's OTT VT which was his family which was supposed to be a personal choice the two didn't match up. #ItTakesTwo #strictly."
This was echoed by a second who shared: "That weird pole dancing, strip show horror does not deserve a place on the Blackpool ballroom floor #Strictly."
Layton and Nikita used a pole during their Blackpool routine
BBC
"#Strictly Pole dancing.... Sorry no. No," a third complained while a fourth echoed: "No. Sorry but pole dancing is not ok. No. #Strictly."
Of course, there was still plenty of support for the pair from Strictly viewers who agreed with the judges' plaudits, including one viewer who argued: "Pole dancing? On #Strictly, what is the world coming to? Dear BBC, I must write to complain, etc. Na, not really, it was brilliant."
And a second also rushed to their defence: "Immediate 10’s for Layton for bringing Pole Dancing to the Blackpool dance floor #strictly." (sic)
Appearing on It Takes Two earlier this week, Williams ignored the negative reaction from some and instead reflected on the meaning of the routine which he dedicated to his mum.
"It sounds so funny to dedicate dance where we're literally swinging around on poles to my mum - do you know what I mean?" Williams told Fleur East.
He continued: "But it has more layers to it. The fact that she can be there cheering me on no matter what I do is kind of a beautiful thing I think.
"I wouldn't be the person I am, swinging around that pole if it wasn't for her, do you know what I mean?"
"If it wasn't for your mum, you wouldn't be swinging around on a pole," East replied with a giggle as Williams answered: "Genuinely! Like all jokes aside, she is amazing and has made so many sacrifices for me to kind of be who I am and where I am.
"So this journey, she feels like she's been going on it with me, so it's so nice to finally have her back in the studio and make her proud."
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Layton Williams has shared the meaning behind the routine
BBC
After making it through Blackpool Week, the pair face an American Smooth to Bjork's It's Oh So Quiet.
Kuzmin touched upon their preparations for the routine in the interview as he told viewers: "I think we are literally killing ourselves in the training room... we are really giving it our all.
"I hope people can really see this on Saturday night's show. We're training hours and hours and hours!"
Fans will have to tune in to see if Williams has what it takes to make it past Week 10 although, in the meantime, a number are convinced they've "worked out" who'll be in danger following the reveal of the songs and dances for each star.
