This year marks the 20th anniversary of Nigel Harman’s EastEnders debut as the ultimate “bad boy” heartthrob Dennis Rickman.
And fans were delighted last month when it was revealed that Nigel, 50, would be joining Strictly Come Dancing – with his first dance with professional partner Katya Jones leaving viewers seriously swooning.
In a top hat and tight black vest, fans dubbed “ring master” Nigel “the sexiest man alive”.
One wrote, “How sexy is Nigel Harman dancing! Think he may win this year”, while another added, “Holy moly, that was hot Nigel Harman!”
And with another viewer speculating that there could be a Nigel-inspired baby boom after this year’s Strictly, Katya, 34, exclusively tells Closer that their debut – a Pasodoble dance to Nirvana – was just the start.
On whether they have any more mega-sexy routines up their sparkling sleeves, Katya says, “You need your person, and it’s going to come as a journey and a natural evolution, and we’ve got this. We’ve made a statement and now we’ll see where it takes us. Hurricane Nigel is coming to Strictly!
“He is a perfect student. I’ve been blessed with all my partners in the past and again it is a very different experience. He’s really funny and he makes me laugh so much – he really does.”
Nigel also hinted that he was willing to “gyrate” his way across the dance floor, saying ahead of his debut, “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!”
Katya, who was married to fellow Strictly dancer Neil Jones for six years before splitting in 2013, was hit by the “Strictly curse” in 2012 when she was photographed snogging her partner, comedian Seann Walsh, outside a pub.
However, while Katya is currently single, she says she has already met Nigel’s wife of 12 years, The Bourne Ultimatum actress Lucy Liemann, 49, who is also mother to Nigel’s 11-year-old daughter. The couple met when they starred in drama Hotel Babylon together and went on to marry in a private ceremony in 2011.
Katya says, “We all watched the launch show together at Dianne [Buswell’s] house party, so that was really nice to share that moment together. I also met his daughter – she’s lovely.”
And while Nigel’s EastEnders character Dennis was killed off in 2006, the actor is no stranger to the limelight.
As well as starring in Downton Abbey as evil valet Mr Green in 2013, Nigel went on to land the role of Dr Max Christie in medical drama Casualty. In September, he revealed he had quit the soap with no plans to return, but was supported by Katya at the Inside Soap Awards last week where he was awarded Best Drama Star for his role in the hospital drama.
Away from the screen, Nigel’s hobbies include playing cricket and meditating, with Katya revealing he has been teaching her to play during rehearsals.
She says, “He’s sporty and he loves his sports, so he teaches me about cricket – he loves it. He’s teaching me cricket and I’m teaching him to dance. The meditation is also really helpful as it’s all about breathing and that’s how it [dancing] all comes together. The breathing really helps.
“When you’re in the rehearsal room for so long learning the same thing, it can get a lot, so we’re breaking it up. I bring my tennis racquet for tennis and he’s been very supportive. I’m having a good time.”