Strictly unveil EastEnders heartthrob as the 13th celebrity to join 2023 line-up

10 August 2023 , 08:15

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Strictly unveil EastEnders heartthrob as the 13th celebrity to join 2023 line-up

Strictly Come Dancing have confirmed former EastEnders heartthrob Nigel Harman will be testing out his dance moves later this year when the BBC series returns.

The news was revealed by Christine Lampard on ITV's Lorraine on Thursday with the Casualty actor joining he presenter in the studio. Nigel starred as Dennis Rickman in EastEnders who died in heartbreakingly iconic scenes on New Year's Eve 2005 in his lover Sharon Watts' arms. He has also appeared in Guys and Dolls in London's West End and has an Olivier for his role in Shrek the Musical.

The actor said: "I'm amazed, excited, and terrified to be doing Strictly. As an armchair fan of the show I have watched in awe as people have twirled and gyrated across the screen. And now it's my turn.....gulp!" Speaking about joining the line-up with Christine, Nigel admitted: "In my mind I think I'm a better dancer than my body is telling me."

Former EastEnders star Nigel Harman will take to the dance floor

On being critiqued by judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Anton Du Beke and Oti Mabuse, he added: "I think I'm a bit in denial about that. In my mind's eye, in my utopian little world is just this wonderful thing where I'm going to learn to dance and then I'm realising that people are going to tell me what they think about that, and people are going to vote. That freaks me out."

Strictly have been teasing fans with this year's line-up all week with several names being dropped across TV and radio. Sherlock star Amanda Abbington, award-winning broadcaster Angela Rippon and West End star Layton Williams were all announced last Friday on The One Show while newsreader Krishnan Guru-Murthy was revealed on Claudia Winkelman's show on BBC Radio 2.

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Nigel Harman joined Christine Lampard on Lorraine to discuss signing up (ITV)

Amanda admitted she was "shy and self-conscious" but "excited" to overcome her fears on the dance floor while former presenter of Come Dancing Angela revealed she was "really looking forward to the challenge". Layton told The One Show he was "absolutely buzzing" and Krishnan told Strictly host Claudia he was "surprised, delighted and slightly confused".

Comedian Eddie Kadi revealed he was "honoured" when he confirmed he was the fifth celebrity to be announced on Sunday on The Official UK Afrobeats Chart Show with Eddie Kadi on BBC Radio1Xtra, while a "terrified" Angela Scanlon was announced on Monday on the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast show.

Love Island star Zara McDermott makes history as the first former Islander to take to the dance floor and BBC Asian Network’s Breakfast show host Nikita Kanda admitted it was a "dream come true" joining Strictly while World and Paralympic Champion Jody Cundy became the eleventh celebrity on Wednesday.

Emmerdale star Adam Thomas, who starred as Adam Barton in the ITV soap joins Coronation Street's Ellie Leech and EastEnders' Bobby Brazier in this year's battle of the soaps.

Meanwhile, before the celebrities have even taken to the dance floor for the first time, Layton has been tipped to lift the Glitterball Trophy. The actor and West End star is 7/2 to take home the Glitterball Trophy as the line-up for the competition is announced, with Zara McDermott next best at 5/1.

William Hill spokesperson, Lee Phelps, said: "The line-up for this year’s Strictly is close to being finalised and we’ve got another interesting bunch of celebrities set to put on their dancing shoes. Layton Williams, with plenty of dancing experience, is the perhaps unsurprising early favourite at 7/2, with Zara McDermott his closest pursuer at 5/1."

Charlotte McIntyre