Nigel Harman has withdrawn from Strictly Come Dancing just hours before the quarter-finals show after sustaining an injury, the BBC has said.
The former EastEnders actor, 50, had been due to perform a Charleston to Step In Time from Disney’s Mary Poppins with his partner Katya Jones, 34, in musicals week on Saturday night.
Harman’s departure leaves only four celebrities in the competition – actress Ellie Leach, tennis star Annabel Croft, theatre and TV star Layton Williams and EastEnders actor Bobby Brazier.
A BBC spokesperson said: “Unfortunately Nigel has sustained an injury which means he is unable to perform in tonight’s show and has had to withdraw from Strictly.”
Harman suffered a rib injury, the broadcaster later said.
A post on the show’s Instagram page wished Harman a “speedy recovery” and said the couple will be “very much missed by our entire Strictly family”.
In the comments, friends and famous faces reacting to the news included presenter AJ Odudu, who had to withdraw from the finale of the 2021 series due to an injury, who commented with a sad face emoji.
Strictly professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova shared a crying and prayer hands emojis while presenter Denise Van Outen wrote: “Oh no!”.
Croft, who this week will dance a foxtrot to a song from the musical Wicked, commented on the official Strictly announcement post saying: “Devastated for you Nigel! I am wishing you a speedy recovery. You are an effortless and talented dancer xxx.”
Irish star Angela Scanlon, who last week became the ninth celebrity to be eliminated from Strictly, said: “So sorry to hear this @themeditatingactor & @katyajones you two are glorious xx.”
Last Saturday, Harman danced the rumba to It’s All Coming Back To Me Now by Celine Dion, scoring a total of 33 points for their efforts.
Judge Craig Revel Horwood said his arms were “absolutely gorgeous” during the performance, while Anton Du Beke said he “thoroughly enjoyed” the routine.
Appearing on Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two on Friday night, Harman said he was still “in shock” they got through the notoriously difficult dance.
He said: “I really enjoyed it. I had a great time. I feel like there’s still so much more to get out the rumba but I’m amazed that we’re sitting here.”
During the show, it was also revealed that this week’s quarter finals was the furthest Jones had gotten in the competition in six years.
Asked how he felt about getting Jones to this stage, Harman said: “It’s brilliant for her. It’s brilliant for us. It’s musicals week as well which, for me, is a great week.
“I love musicals. We just feel really grateful to be here.”
The show also teased a clip of the couple performing their upcoming routine, where they could be seen wearing flat caps while they kicked and span on the dancefloor amongst a number of backup dancers.
Harman said he was particularly looking forward to this week because of his love of musicals, which was influenced by his parents’ appreciation of them.
“I love the singing and dancing. I love the heightened emotions of it all,” he added.
“And we’ve got this banger this week. It’s full on showbiz. We’ve got four backing dancers, we’ve got all the split levels, there’s leaps and there’s carrying and we’re flying around and I end up needing oxygen every time we do it. So it is full on but it’s exciting.”
The actor admitted the routine had been an escalation of pace from last week’s rumba, saying: “The rumba, just sort of mincing around and wafting my hips in the general directions was lovely, maybe one bead of sweat.
“This week, St John’s ambulance is on standby. This is the complete other end of the scale.”
Harman is the second celebrity to quit the show early after actress Amanda Abbington departed for “personal reasons”.
In October, the Sherlock star missed a live Saturday show due to “medical reasons” and it was announced a couple of days later that she had pulled out of the competition.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel