Strictly star Nigel Harman's huge career change after EastEnders fame
Nigel Harman is ready to dust of his dancing shoes and head to the Strictly Come Dancing studio after embarking on a much more tranquil career before signing up for the show.
The EastEnders legend is the 13th celebrity to be confirmed for the BBC competition and he's bracing himself for a frantic few months ahead. But it's all a far cry from what he has been up to lately; teaching meditation.
He knows he's going to need the calm when it all gets underway and spoke to Christine Lampard on Lorraine, saying it could come in very handy once the stress and strain starts when the cameras come to life. Nigel made his on-screen debut as hunky Dennis Rickman, son of the iconic Dirty Den, in 2003, but departed the soap in a heartbreaking storyline just two years later.
The actor also portrayed the villainous valet Mr Green in Downton Abbey and has shone in the theatre before returning to TV on Casualty. While on the show he was learning meditation and he is glad he picked a subject to really help him be at ease.
Nigel Harman spoke about his new career on Lorraine today (ITV)He said. "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."
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Christine told him: "That will come in very useful over the next few months" and he replied: "I've got a feeling I'm going to need it!". After being confirmed as part of this year's Strictly line-up, Nigel 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!""
TV bosses picked Nigel as he’s the "perfect middle-aged hunk" and believe fans will be over the moon to see him back on their TV screens. His character Dennis was involved in several big storylines during his time on the long-running BBC soap, and his on-again/off-again relationship with Sharon – who was the adopted daughter of his father Den – was one that kept viewers hooked.
He was also involved with Zoe Slater, had an ongoing feud with Sharon’s ex-husband Phil Mitchell, and was mixed up with gangsters after murdering mob boss Jack Dalton. Nigel’s time on the show came to an end in December 2005, when he was stabbed to death by Danny Moon on the orders of crime lord Johnny Allen, and died in the arms of wife Sharon.
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