Strictly Come Dancing behind the scenes at Peel Tower, Bury

The beautiful scenery of Holcombe Hill was showcased on BBC 1’s hit Strictly Come Dancing show on Saturday night as West End star, Layton Williams reminisced on his time growing up in Bury.

The 28-year-old, who went to Broad Oak High School, spoke on the show, he said: “This is my hometown, Bury, and it is where I used to dream as a young boy.

“We used to walk up here for little days out with my nan, grandad and my mum and I look back on my memories very fondly.

“Life growing up in Bury is nothing like the life I live now

“This is another world.

“I was a normal (ish) boy and then I found a passion for performing and that was it.”

Layton was accompanied by BBC film crews on his trip up Peel Tower as well as his Strictly partner, Nikita Kuzmin.

The duo are the only same-sex couple this year and they revealed they would be dancing the “Layton-ised Samba” during their first live show.

Speaking about the opportunity to be on Strictly, Layton said: “If I did not do this my mum would kill me she is the biggest Strictly fan.

“It’s a proud moment, I’m out, proud and want to be 100% authentically me”.

He added that viewers can expect him to bring the glitz, glam, camp, and ‘maybe some good drama’.

Layton is best known on TV for playing Stephen Carmichael in the Bad Education film and the recently rebooted series.

His other TV features include Beautiful People, Benidorm, The Cleaner and I Hate Suzie.

Trevor Davies, who has worked on projects at Peel Tower before, was asked to lead the crew up the hill ahead of filming.

He said: “On September 3 myself and my wife cordoned off an area to house the BBC vehicles at the Shoulder of Mutton with permission from Andy Hitchen, the landlord.

“They spent around five hours filming in the tower and on the land around so we think that it will be a really good show featuring the Bury area.

“The weather was beautiful too which made things a lot easier, the only real problem we had was the number of bugs gathered at the top of the tower because of the warm weather we had been having.

“I gave my warning, but I think they managed to brave it, I just hope no one was bitten too much!”

Viewers who have visited Holcombe Hill in the past praised the show for the spectacular footage of the landmark and views available from the top of it.

One watcher said: “Great to see them at such a well-known Bury landmark” and “Great pictures of Peel Tower and surrounding areas”.

Others have announced their backing of Layton proclaiming: “I'm sure Layton will be fabulous. Let's get behind our local boy, great character”.