Strictly legend Vincent Simone says Craig was right about Layton Williams
Despite giving zero criticism of the dance, Craig failed to score Layton a perfect 10 for his Argentine Tango last weekend.
![Layton-and-Nikita-Argentine-Tango Strictly Come Dancing 2023 contestant Layton Williams wearing purple while dancing the Argentine Tango with his professional dance partner Nikita Kuzmin](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2023/11/Layton-and-Nikita-Argentine-Tango-eac2b64.jpg?quality=90&resize=980,654)
Last weekend on Strictly Come Dancing saw Layton Williams score an almost perfect score of 40 as he performed an Argentine Tango along with his professional dance partner Nikita Kuzmin.
While three of the Strictly Come Dancing judges, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke gave him 10s across the board, Craig Revel Horwood marked him 1 point down, despite not criticising the performance.
Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com on behalf of ICE36, former Strictly pro and Argentine Tango expert Vincent Simone shared why he agrees with Craig's lower score, admitting the dance was too "intense".
![The-Strictly-Come-Dancing-2023-judges-during-week-8 The Strictly Come Dancing judges scoring during week 8 of the BBC One show.](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2023/11/The-Strictly-Come-Dancing-2023-judges-during-week-8-9c900db.jpg?quality=90&fit=700,466)
"I agree with what Craig said that it was too aggressive. It was very intense. I mean, listen, I loved it and I wouldn't change anything. I think it was perfect for them at the moment to do it that way. But, it's not supposed to be stiff upper body parts, you know, being stiff and hard and sharp and so on. It still needs to be kind of soft," Vincent explained.
"It can have the intensity, but it still needs to be more towards each other. Be more soft and be more into each other. So it was too stiff and too hard for being a tango. There was too much attack like Craig said, so I totally agree with him."
![Vincent Simone Vincent Simone](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2023/11/vincent-simone-614108d.jpg?quality=90&fit=700,467)
He continued: "I’m a Tango expert, so for me I probably would have given them a nine. There are technical elements, which unfortunately you can't achieve within a week or two weeks or even like six months, you need years of experience. But if there was a nine and a half, I would have given them that."
Read more:
- Ex-Strictly pro Vincent Simone weighs in on Angela Rippon treatment
- Amy Dowden unable to dance in Strictly’s Blackpool Week after injury
Despite this, Vincent believes Layton is "one of the best" celebs in the Strictly Come Dancing 2023 line-up.
He continued: "Layton is spectacular, I think he’s probably one of the best. He’s definitely one of the best celebrities. I mean, what that little man can do! He’s amazing. I was so impressed even watching the Argentine Tango, and you know I'm an Argentine world champion and everything, but still!"
More like this
By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.
He added: "It’s not just the choreography and the steps. I don't like when the judges go, ‘Oh you did a wrong step.’ It's not about that, in my opinion. There's more to that. For me, it's all about understanding of the dance, the style of the dance, the history of the dance, and give people feelings.
"So when they did that Tango on Saturday, I just loved that energy and intensity that they had. Forget about the choreography, but they were really, really spectacular."
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturdays and Sundays on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on.
Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now and celebrate the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who with a special issue of Radio Times. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.