Strictly’s Nigel Harman emerges as early favorite to win as he and partner Katya Jones top the leaderboard in week one
Nigel Harman has emerged as an early favorite to win Strictly Come Dancing as he topped the leaderboard in week one on Saturday.
The 50-year-old actor was named ‘the one to beat’ by judge Shirley Ballas after performing an excellent pasodoble with dance partner Katya Jones.
The Casualty star danced to Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit and received rave reviews from all four judges, receiving a score of 32 out of 40.
“That was the dance of the night,” exclaimed Craig Revel Horwood, while Motsi Mabuse added: “This at the end of the night was spectacular, amazing.”
Anton Du Beke also praised the actor and reminded the audience that it is not easy for the star who has to close the show.
Candidate: Nigel Harman has emerged as an early favorite to win Strictly Come Dancing as he topped the leaderboard in week one on Saturday
Flawless: The actor, 50, was named ‘the one to beat’ by judge Shirley Ballas after performing an outstanding pasodoble with dance partner Katya Jones
Success: The Casualty star danced to Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit and received universal praise from all four judges, receiving a score of 32 out of 40
Viewers took to X/Twitter to praise Nigel for his performance, with one writing: ‘Nigel was amazing! I could just watch that Paso over and over again.”
Another added: ‘That was extraordinary. Nigel Harman’s performance was great. Katya Jones is an incredible choreographer.”
A third wrote: ‘Nigel needs to be in the final now,’ while a fourth said: ‘Top of the leaderboard and definitely worth the wait.’
Another viewer added: ‘I didn’t expect that! Brilliant!’
Despite being tipped as the pin-up of the series, Nigel, who attended £24,000 a year at Dulwich College, is unlikely to fall victim to the show’s much-discussed ‘Strictly curse’.
He is happily married to actress Lucy Liemann, 49, who starred in The Bill and Agatha Christie’s Poirot, as well as the third Jason Bourne film, The Bourne Ultimatum.
Nigel was at the center of a controversial storyline in Downton Abbey in 2013, in which his character punched maid Anna (played by Joanne Froggatt) in the face and dragged her into a room in a violent rape scene.
But earlier this year Nigel returned to the BBC and joined the cast of Casualty, where he plays charming clinical lead Max Christie.
Reaction: Viewers took to X/Twitter to praise Nigel for his performance, with one writing: ‘Nigel was amazing! I could just watch that Paso over and over again.”
In addition to many stage credits, Nigel has performed in Guys and Dolls in London’s West End and Shrek the Musical, which he subsequently directed for the UK tour.
His film work includes roles in Blood Diamond, Telstar and The Outsiders for ITV.
After being confirmed as a contestant, Nigel said: ‘I’m amazed, excited and terrified to be doing Strictly.
“As an armchair fan of the show, I watched in awe as people spun and spun across the screen. And now it’s my turn…gulp!’