17 October 2023 , 17:00
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EastEnders icon Nigel Harman is already winning over judges and viewers alike on this season of Strictly Come Dancing. Getting off to a strong start, he and dancing partner Katya Jones delivered the "dance of the night" in week one, with a breathtaking Paso Doble in week one, before bringing passion to the dancefloor in week two, with a graceful Viennese Waltz.
On Saturday night, the pair turned things up a notch, dancing an awe-inspiring salsa earning them an excellent 33 points from the judges, putting them second place on the leaderboard just behind Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin - whose incredible ChaCha clocked up 37 points. The judges adored Nigel's "Patrick Swayze vibe", while viewers at home were left equally wowed.
Nigel has proven himself to be a talented dancer (Getty Images)
Nigel and Lucy tied the knot in 2011 (Dave Benett/Getty Images)One fan wrote on Twitter: "Nigel and Katya’s chemistry is off the scale#Strictly #SCD," and another said: "It’s so good to see Katya show off her talent with Nigel after being paired up with others in the past she always produces such good routines, her choreography and storytelling is amazing. Let’s go Katya and Nigel #StrictlyComeDancing #strictly."
Away from the dancefloor, Nigel is married to actress Lucy Liemann, who has enjoyed a very successful acting career of her own. As well as parts in The Bill, The IT Crowd, Midsomer Murders, and other popular UK shows, the 49-year-old Academy of Live and Recorded Arts grad is perhaps best known for playing Lucy in Hollywood blockbuster The Bourne Ultimatum (2007).
Nigel and Lucy, met on the set of BBC comedy drama Hotel Babylon (2006), which they both starred in. The couple, who are understood to value their privacy, tied the knot in 2011, with Lucy giving birth to their daughter a year later. Even though their daughter, who is believed to be around 11 years old is too young to watch from the studio, as guests have to be 16, she has been proudly cheering on from home.
EastEnders' Jake Wood's snap of son has fans pointing out the pair's likeness
Nigel's professional partner Katya Jones explained that his daughter couldn't be prouder of her dad, adding: "I will tell you her little face - she was so proud! That's all that matters, isn't it, at the end of the day." Meanwhile, supportive Lucy will be proudly applauding Nigel from the crowd, keeping up with all the action of the ballroom live.
Lucy and their daughter have even been to watch Nigel train with Katy, with Nigel telling the Radio Times: "My wife and daughter popped in to watch us go through our routine and they really enjoyed it. It was really lovely."