Nigel Harman has delved further into the reasons behind his Strictly Come Dancing exit following his and partner Katya Jones’ tearful exit interview during Saturday’s live show.
The pair were inconsolable on Saturday evening – with Jones even sparking particular concern with some BBC viewers – but on Monday, they were much more composed as they returned to screens.
Harman was forced to quit the show following a rib injury during rehearsals and news of his withdrawal broke just hours before this past weekend’s live show.
A number of Strictly stars have shown their support for the Casualty actor following the news – including Amanda Abbington who also quit the show.
But one person who’s been by his side and been a pillar of support throughout is Harman’s wife Lucy Liemann.
Keen to hear what she made of his Strictly stint now he’s departed, It Takes Too host Fleur East quizzed Harman on Monday: “You said at the launch show your wife Lucy laughed when you said you were gonna come onto Strictly, what does she think of your journey now?”
Nigel Harman spoke about his wife’s reaction on Monday’s It Takes Two
BBC
“She’s still laughing,” Jones chipped in which prompted Harman to giggle and clutch his ribs in pain as the impact of his injury took its toll.
“Oh! It feels like I’ve got a little golf ball stuck under my rib so every time I laugh,” Harman explained before he turned his attention to his other half.
He answered: “She’s been incredible and very supportive and kept me going in a lot of ways – with a packed lunch or a cuddle or whatever! She’s come to support us, every Wednesday she and my daughter would show up.
“I think she’s proud of me and I think maybe there’s a little element of, ‘Oh, you’re better than I thought you were gonna be’.
“But she has been a wonder really and continues to be today, she’s looking after me today. I feel very lucky, very blessed,” Harman emphatically replied.
While his wife has been by his side throughout and often appeared in the live studio audience during the series, neither Harman nor Jones addressed Liemann in their tearful exit interview on Saturday.
In fact, Jones piqued the interest of several Strictly viewers when she mentioned Harman’s children and parents within her interview but left out his wife.
“It’s quite hard to talk right now, I’m not going to lie. But I have absolutely loved every moment of us creating magic on a dance floor,” Jones told Winkleman on Saturday.
Nigel Harman and his wife Lucy Liemann
GETTY
“I know the reasons you did this was for your daughter and your parents and especially missing out on this number, I know your parents would be very, very proud of you.
“I hope you got something out of this that you’re going to cherish forever in your broken rib.”
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, at the weekend, one Strictly viewer mused: “Hmmm, odd that Katya didn’t mention Nigel’s actual wife in that little speech…”
While a second agreed: “Odd how #Katya didn’t mention Nigel Harmans wife ….. hmmm #StrictlyComeDancing.”
However, Harman and Jones appear to have put any rumours of bad blood to bed with his touching tribute to his other half during Monday’s It Takes Two.
Now that he’s left the competition, it’s semi-finalists Layton Williams – who bagged the first 40 of the series at the weekend – Ellie Leach, Bobby Brazier and Annabel Croft who’ll battle it out to lift the Glitterball.
