Strictly Come Dancing fans have expressed confusion over Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin's perfect 40 score for their Charleston in Saturday's semi-final, with many claiming the dance was out of sync. The duo received a standing ovation from judge Craig Revel Horwood, who called it 'the best Charleston I've ever seen in twenty years.'
Williams, 29, and Kuzmin, 25, performed to 'Fit As A Fiddle' by Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor, incorporating chairs, a ladder, and umbrellas. Their routine included a front flip, adding to previous acrobatics like a back handspring and pole work. The pair cried and embraced after receiving top marks from all judges.
However, some viewers took to social media to question the score. @kay_leadbetter tweeted: 'Did I see the same thing? They were out of sync immediately and it felt slow.' @Kendal_ added: 'Are we just ignoring the moments Layton and Nikita weren’t in sync? Not Layton’s best dance, not the best Charleston we’ve ever seen.'
Other fans defended the performance. @kuuuurro wrote: 'Lakita's second 40!!!! This was so incredibly deserved.' @suez6485 commented: 'WOW, JUST WOW! This Charleston is up there with one of my favourites... Deserved that 40!'
Williams and Kuzmin topped the leaderboard with 116 points overall, after also scoring 36 for their rumba. The semi-final was affected by Nigel Harman's withdrawal due to a rib injury, leaving four couples competing for a place in the final.
