Nigel Harman’s journey, from EastEnders bad boy and thespian to Strictly 2023

12 Nov 2023

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Once again, the beloved entertainment show known as Strictly Come Dancing has returned, featuring a brand new lineup of famous personalities who will take center stage.

Nigel Harman, who won the Olivier award for acting, is one of the potential candidates for the 2023 series. He's most famous for his part in the EastEnders television show on BBC.

Harman, who was born in Surrey in the year 1973, developed a passion for performing at an early age. His parents had an inclination towards amateur productions and were associated with the Croydon Operatic and Dramatic Association.

At age 11, Harman became a rising child star when he landed a role in the BBC One drama Tenko. He also made a name for himself in the theater industry, and was part of the opening cast of the popular Abba musical Mamma Mia!.

When Harman was 50 years old, he had a hard time finding a stable job. At first, he took on the role of a driver at Sainsbury's supermarket. Later, he got the news that he had been given a part in EastEnders.

Harman embarked on his role as Dennis Rickman in the popular soap opera back in 2003. In the show, he portrays the rebellious son of the notorious "Dirty Den" Watts, known for his mischievous demeanor and "bad boy" attitude.

Dennis played a significant role in EastEnders, but unfortunately, he met a shocking demise on an episode that aired on December 30th, 2005.

During an interview with Inside Soap, Harman discussed a scene that was particularly memorable. He explained that he felt it was necessary to bring closure to the character, which is why the scene has stayed with viewers for so long.

Nigel Harman was present at the Inside Soap Awards back in 2003.

At that time, I didn't realize how well-liked Dennis was. It's only after two decades that individuals still approach me, which is when I finally comprehend the influence that Dennis had.

Once Harman exited EastEnders, he had a surge of triumph in his career on the theatrical platform. He starred in various stage productions such as Guys and Dolls and The Caretaker by Harold Pinter.

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He portrayed the character of Lord Farquaad in Shrek the Musical's West End production in 2011. He received the Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical award at the 2012 Olivier Awards.

In 2014, he agreed to take on the role of director for the traveling performance of Shrek The Musical. Additionally, he played a part alongside Mark Benton during the tour of David Mamet's play, Glengarry Glen Ross.

In 2015, Harman attended the opening night of the play 'Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown' at the Playhouse Theatre with his spouse, Lucy Liemann.

Harman has also appeared in leading roles on the television programs Plus One and Hotel Babylon.

Back in 2013, he took on the character of Green in the famous show Downton Abbey, and he also had a leading role as Bradley on the Sky One comedy series Mount Pleasant for six seasons from 2013 to 2017.

He made a comeback to the realm of melodramatic TV series this year by taking on a character in the well-known medical show called Casualty. In the month of September, he declared that he would be stepping away from the role he was playing, which was that of Max Christie, responsible for clinical leadership in Holby ED, and would be doing so in February 2024.

Harman is in a matrimonial bond with Lucy Liemann, who is an actor in the film 'The Bourne Ultimatum'. They have a daughter together.

Before appearing on Strictly Come Dancing, the actor mentioned his dance experience in an interview with Radio Times. He said, "When I was 16, I completed a diploma in musical theatre which involved dancing. I was placed in the C stream at first but eventually moved up to the B stream, although I never made it to the top stream, A."

Nigel Harman takes a pose for the show 'Strictly'.

He stated that after graduating from college, he worked as a dancer on a cruise ship for half a year, emphasizing that his role was not limited to just conducting bingo sessions.

He went on to say: "On the cruise ship, there were different tiers. We were not on the highest level. Despite this, we put in a lot of effort, and I even had to wash the costumes in the shower. To be honest, I didn't reveal this to anyone for five years because I was ashamed. I was striving for success, and I knew that such a job carried a sense of shame. But now I am proud of it."

Before the first episode of Strictly, Harman made a statement expressing his feelings about being a part of the show. He said he was astonished, thrilled, and scared all at the same time to participate in Strictly. As someone who has only watched the show from home, he has admired the way people glide and move on the dance floor. Now, it's his chance to take on that challenge, although he is a bit nervous about it.

Explore the remaining contestants of Strictly's 2023 roster through this article.

The TV show with the name of "Strictly Come Dancing" will be shown every Saturday on BBC One starting from the 16th of September.