Strictly Come Dancing’s Nigel Harman’s life after EastEnders fame – Downton Abbey role to family life
Ex-EastEnders heartthrob Nigel Harman is one of the stars taking part in this year's Strictly Come Dancing – here's what he's been up to since leaving the BBC soap
Nigel Harman recently announced his departure from Strictly Come Dancing.
Just hours before he was due to take to the dancefloor, a BBC spokesperson confirmed: “Unfortunately Nigel has sustained an injury which means he is unable to perform in tonight’s show and has had to withdraw from Strictly.” They later confirmed that he’d suffered an injury to his ribs before wishing him all the best. The former EastEnders actor, 50, had been due to perform a Charleston to Step In Time from Disney’s Mary Poppins with his partner Katya Jones, 34, in musicals week on Saturday night.
The TV star shot to fame in EastEnders back in 2003 – where he won a few awards for ‘sexiest male’ and ‘best actor’ in his role as Dennis Rickman, son of iconic character Dirty Den.
Nigel Harman has pulled out of Strictly Come Dancing (
BBC/Kieron McCarron)
After being dramatically killed off in the BBC soap in 2005, the hunky actor has gone on to star in big shows like Downton Abbey, Hotel Babylon, Sky comedy drama Mount Pleasant and Casualty. He has also done extensive theatre work appearing in West End hits like Guys and Dolls and Shrek The Musical.
Here, we look at what else he has been up to since he got his big break in EastEnders, including directing work, starring in Hollywood films, getting married to a British actress and having a baby – as well as a recent career change.
Dramatic EastEnders exit
Nigel shot to fame as EastEnders bad boy Dennis Rickman in 2003 (
BBC)
Nigel made his on-screen debut as Dennis Rickman in EastEnders in 2003 and it’s still the role he is best known for to this day. At the time he was cast he was working as a lorry driver for Sainsbury’s.
In iconic scenes, Dennis quickly made enemies in Albert Square after punching the likes of Phil Mitchell and fans were delighted when his dad Dirty Den (Leslie Grantham) returned from the dead after 14 years. But although he made a massive impact and is one of EastEnders’ most legendary characters, Nigel left the BBC soap two years later in 2005 after Dennis was brutally stabbed to death by Danny Moon on the orders of crime lord Johnny Allen.
He died in the arms of wife Sharon Watts [Letitia Dean], who was pregnant with Dennis’ baby at the time – which was also a bit awkward as she played his adoptive sister on the soap. Revealing the real reason Dennis was killed off, Nigel told Inside Soap magazine: “I had a very strong instinct that I wanted to draw a line underneath the character. I think that’s why he resonated for so long.
“I wasn’t aware of [how popular Dennis was] at the time. People still come up to me 20 years and that’s when I’ve noticed the impact that Dennis has had.”
Big roles – including a Hollywood film
Nigel as evil valet Mr Green in Downton Abbey (
ITV)
Following his dramatic exit from EastEnders, Nigel went on to land a part in Blood Diamond, the Hollywood film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, which was released in 2006.
More TV work followed and fans saw him pop in episodes of Lark Rise to Candleford, Marple and Cuckoo. He had recurring roles in shows like Hotel Babylon, Mount Pleasant and TV series Plus One. But it was his appearance in period drama Downton Abbey as villainous valet Mr Green that became his next iconic role. Although Nigel only starred in four episodes of the hit TV series in 2013, the scenes shocked viewers.
It even prompted complaints after his evil character raped much-loved Anna Bates, the maid of Lady Mary. Talking about why he took on the role, Nigel said it was a “shocking and bold storyline”. Appearing on This Morning at the time, he explained: “When I was sent the script and read it, I was amazed and excited by it – if that makes sense – because for a show like Downton, it really leaped out as a bold and risky idea.”
After years of theatre work in between, 50-year-old Nigel is now back on TV screens in his latest role as dishy Dr Max Christie in Casualty. He joined the BBC medical drama in February 2023 as the new clinical lead of the emergency department. Teasing what is to come for his character, he said: “There’s some flirtations around the building with Max and other characters, who I shan’t mention. Where they lead, we’ll have to wait and see.”
Secret theatre and directing roles
Nigel played Simon Cowell in spoof X Factor musical I Can’t Sing! (
PA)
If you don’t follow theatre, you might not know that Nigel has pretty much continuously worked on the stage – which he has described as his “first love” – since he started acting. By the age of eight, he even had his own manager. His biggest West End shows include Guys and Dolls, opposite the legendary Sarah Lancashire. He has also starred in the Harold Pinter play The Caretaker and Three Days of Rain alongside James McAvoy.
Turning his hand to musicals, Nigel had fun playing Lord Farquaad in Shrek The Musical, which he won an Olivier Award for, and later directed the show during its tour around the UK. He also directed the musical version of the movie Big Fish, starring Kelsey Grammer in 2017 and starred as Simon Cowell in I Can’t Sing! The X Factor Musical!
And in 2022 Nigel was cast as lead character, professor Robert Langdon, in the stage adaptation of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code.
Family and new career
Nigel with his actress wife Lucy Liemann (
Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Nigel as as dishy Dr Max Christie in Casualty (
BBC/Alistair Heap)
Away from work, Nigel is married to British actress Lucy Leimann. The 49-year-old has worked in theatre, TV and film and starred in shows like The Bill, Wild At Heart and Agatha Christie’s Poirot.
Bigger roles include starring in TV series like Moving Wallpaper, Reggie Perin, Agatha Rasin and Rev. She also played the part of Lucy in the third instalment of the Jason Bourne movie franchise, The Bourne Ultimatum and recently starred in controversial Netflix drama The Strays.
Lucy and Nigel married in 2011 after reportedly meeting on the set of Hotel Babylon, in which they both starred. The following year Lucy gave birth to a daughter, who is now thought to be around 11 years old. Both are fiercely private when it comes to their family life and don’t post anything on social media.
He recently became a meditation teacher and calls himself the ‘meditating actor’ (
Instagram)
However, Nigel is active on Instagram and recently rebranded himself as the ‘meditating actor’ after becoming a meditation teacher. He often shares tips on breathing and how to stay calm with his 28,000 followers. Appearing on Lorraine this week, he shared: “I have recently graduated as a meditation teacher. I did a two year course, which I finished as I was doing Casualty. I teach. I’m teaching a beginners’ course in September while I’m doing this, and I love it. I brings be great peace, enjoyment and happiness. ”
But he added: “I don’t live the monk life! I’m flawed, I’m all those things. I know what of those type of people, but I get so much out of it. In July I did a drop out class and people from all over the world were joining. We hung out together meditating..”
