11 September 2023 , 06:00
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Casualty star Nigel Harman is one of 15 celebrities taking part in hit BBC One series Strictly Come Dancing this year.
And the former EastEnders star, 50, who has quit Casualty after a year in the role, already knows judge Craig Revel Horwood as they worked together on stage years ago. Speaking to The Mirror and other press ahead of the show's launch, Nigel said: "I know Craig, I know him from years ago, I haven't seen him in 20 years.
"I was in a show he choreographed, I remember from that experience being lined up, we had to do a move one at a time because someone was doing it wrong and it got to me... and it was me! I'd forgotten this story until signing up to do this show [Strictly] and then I've gone: 'Oh, s**t!' so I'm a little bit... he's either going to be really pleased to see me or it's going to be... I'm not going to remind [him]!"
Casualty star Nigel Harman is one of 15 celebrities taking part in hit BBC One series Strictly Come Dancing this year (BBC/Kieron McCarron)
Nigel as Dr Max Cristie in Casualty (BBC/Alistair Heap)Elsewhere, ahead of appearing on Strictly, Nigel has been able to get valuable advice from his Casualty co-star Charles Venn, who appeared on Strictly in 2018. He said: "I spoke to Charles Venn, who is at Casualty, he just told me to be myself and go do cardio, which coming from Charles... it's like: 'What, you struggled?' and he went: 'Yeah, I was knackered!'"
It comes as Nigel has left Casualty after a year in the role. The actor, who plays Dr Max Cristie, confirmed he has filmed his last scenes and wouldn’t be returning after they air in February. He said: "My time on Casualty is done for the time being. I’m on screen until February and there are no plans for me to come back at the moment."
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Nigel burst onto the scene in 2003, playing EastEnders heartthrob Dennis Rickman. During his time in Albert Square he married his adopted sister Sharon, played by Letitia Dean, and was then killed off in 2006 when he was stabbed on New Year's Day, dying in Sharon's arms.
He later went on to star in Downton Abbey as evil valet Mr Green. But Nigel admits he is finding it harder to appear on TV as himself for Strictly than starring in his challenging roles.