Layton Williams: ‘If you’re offended by my iceberg, don’t watch it’-Meghna Amin-Entertainment – Metro

Layton Williams has hit back at any haters ahead of his new role as an iceberg (Picture: Getty)

Layton Williams has shared a powerful message for anyone offended by him playing an iceberg.

The Strictly Come Dancing star, 30, is taking to the stage for a very unique role in musical Titanique.

He’s vowed to ‘bring joy’ to audiences, and has a powerful message for anyone offended by the show, after a Drag artist on Britain’s Got Talent sparked Ofcom complaints over a Titanic performance, which some fans slammed as ‘super distasteful’ after the 1912 tragedy.

Hitting back at the haters, Layton told Metro: ‘I think when so much time passes, to make joy of something that happened… it’s more a lol on Celine [Dion], and actually all the characters are fictional.

‘It’s based on the Titanic film, and we all know the characters in the movie weren’t real. So actually, we’re not taking the p**s out of real life people that died.

‘We’re taking the p**s out of made up characters in a movie that isn’t real. And now this is doubly not real, so this is all fantasy.’

The Bad Education actor went on: ‘There’s a gorgeous little moment at the end where we acknowledge the people.

‘So I really think you’re reaching for the stars if you’re offended, someone’s going be offended about something. or we wouldn’t be able to leave the house, let’s be f**king real.

‘So if that is you, don’t book a ticket. If that is not you, get your arse down to The Criterion Theatre.’

The star is taking to the stage for Titanique (Picture: Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Whispering Angel)

Talking about the iconic new role, which Layton saw in New York before it made its way to London, he explained how he was ready for something fun where ‘you probably cry laughing’, after playing Emcee in Cabaret for four months.

He said: ‘We are in a very crazy world at the moment, and I think everyone just needs a little bit of joy. And Titanic is going to give you that.

‘The iceberg b***h, my big number is a Tina Turner tribute in a dusty, hard, lace, front wig and a throw-on gown and a cheeky kitten heel. It’s just stupid.

‘Like my iceberg b***h is basically a mix between Tina Turner and RuPaul. That’s the energy, you better lip sync for your life boat, period.’

Talking about watching the production before it came to the West End, he recalled how ‘hilarious’ it was, and how he predicted having ‘so much fun with this part’.

‘I mean the cast is so fab as well, like very West End Wendies, top of their game hotties as well,’ he went on.

Layton was a finalist on Strictly last year (Picture: PA)

‘Everyone’s so beautiful, which we love, but on the most part, just super talented. So I’m excited to muck in. It’s a very shared ensemble piece as well. It feels like we’re going to share the load and just have a giggle.’

Though he can’t exactly prepare to play an iceberg by sitting in a cryo machine, Layton revealed he has been belting out his tunes and is gearing up to be ‘the baddest b***h iceberg’ in some pretty iconic ways.

‘I just read the script, listened to some Celine Dion songs… it’s like you’ve got to compartmentalize all these things and just concentrate on the thing at hand.

‘And thankfully, this is a show that you can just kind of step in and it will all just come in. But I’m just listening to my bops. My song is really deep, Mountain High, which is such a tune,’ he added, before breaking into song.

‘Like, that is a song, isn’t it? But also, I was in the steam room the other day and I was like, wait, can I actually sing this song? They’ve not actually heard me sing it. I was like, what if I’m s**t?

Layton is ready to be ‘the baddest iceberg b***h’ (Picture: Keith Mayhew/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

‘So I literally popped my head out of the steam room, made sure nobody was there in the hotel, closed it and belted my t*ts off. ‘

He went on: ‘There’s definitely not a lot of mind prep for this role because it’s so silly, which is a relief off the back of Cabaret, because that really did take a different approach, because, of course, the subject matter a lot deeper.

‘And with Titanic, it did actually happen, and there was a beautiful moment at the end of the show in New York, like, “We dedicate this show to the people that lost their lives in Titanic”, we have that moment.’

In between preparing for Titanique and having just finished a run in Cabaret, Layton also manages to find time to support his Pros From The Shows programme, providing the next generation an insight into West End productions.

The bi-monthly workshops have launched in London, Manchester, Durham and now Norwich and Edinburgh, for children and now for adults.

Layton is finding time to support his project Pros From The Shows (Picture: Mike Marsland/WireImage)

‘I actually wanted to set it up so it could be something that, especially in my area, people could fall into,’ Layton said.

‘And I guess the difference that when I was growing up, you didn’t really have people from the shows come into your town to give you these experiences.’

He went on to explain: ‘Basically it’s just an opportunity for people in that area, like-minded young people, to just be surrounded by people that are like them, that love showtunes and love dancing and love singing, love acting, and it could be in a safe space, and it’s kind of no judgment zone.’

Layton added: ‘It’s not just changing these kids’ lives and setting them up for the future. It’s also giving grown people the realization that life is still for living. So it’s really beautiful thing that we can offer. We’re just trying to get the noise out there and let people know about it, because it’s special.’

Titanique, New York’s splash hit parody musical, docks at The Criterion Theatre from Monday, December 9. london.titaniquemusical.com

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