Strictly Come Dancing ‘feud’ uncovered as finalists brutally snub their co-star
Strictly Come Dancing fans think they have uncovered evidence of a feud between two of the finalists and former contestant Nigel Harman.
The 50-year-old former EastEnders star was competing on the 2023 season of the BBC’s long-running dance competition - and was a fan favourite to win the show. However, his dream of scooping the Glitterball Trophy was shattered hours before the quarter final as he sustained an agonising injury, breaking a rib, and sending him crashing out of the contest alongside his professional dance partner Katya Jones, 34.
Saturday night will see EastEnders star Bobby Brazier, 20, and his dance partner Dianne Bussell, 34, Coronation Street star Ellie Leach, 22, and her dance partner Vito Coppola, 31, and West End star Layton Williams, 29, and his dance partner Nikita Kuzmin, 25, battling to win the trophy. And while the trio will be dancing hard for victory, it seems two of them don't want to be reminded about the existence of Nigel outside of the show.
Social media sleuths have noticed that neither Bobby nor Layton follow the soap actor on Instagram - and suspect this could be evidence of frosty relations between the three. While Nigel himself only follows 13 accounts on his own page - with the official Strictly account being the only dance show related account that he follows.
Two of the 2023 Strictly Come Dancing celebrity finalists don't follow Nigel Harman on Instagram (BBC/Guy Levy)The revelation comes after insiders claimed crew working on the BBC show were ‘relieved’ when he was forced out of the contest as he would be moody behind-the-scenes whenever he slipped up on the dance floor. A source told The Sun hours after Nigel exited the show: "Nigel takes himself very seriously as a performer and throws himself heart and soul into things. So obviously he’s very emotional if things don’t go as he hoped. That often means that he can be like a bear with a sore head backstage.
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“Viewers got a glimpse of that when he received disappointing scores for their quickstep in Blackpool. The crew and pros on the show are like a close family and the celebrities are welcomed into that. But if someone upsets that long-standing dynamic it can create bad feeling."
The claims were rubbished by a Strictly spokesperson, however, as they said the crew working on the show couldn’t wait to see Nigel back in the studio for the live final - as all of the 2023 contestants are due to return. They said: "It is always sad when a contestant leaves the show, particularly when an injury is sustained. Nigel will be well missed by those who have worked alongside him on the show and everyone wishes him the very best and looks forward to seeing him at the final on Saturday 16th December."
Ellie Leach does follow Nigel on Instagram - but her co-finalists don't (BBC/Guy Levy)
Nigel Harman and Katya Jones's Strictly dream came to an end due to injury hours before the quarter final (BBC/Guy Levy)On Friday night, Nigel was on companion show It Takes Two where he gave an update on his health after breaking a rib in rehearsals two weeks previously. He said: “It’s good, it’s getting better. I’m a bit sore. I’ve got about another month of recovery, but apart from that I’m alright.” And he added: “It’s really lovely to be back. It’s really lovely to see all our friends. And it’s really lovely not to be dancing, and just to be messing about.”
Nigel previously gushed about his dance partner, Katya, for getting him to the quarter final - and his sadness at causing them to exit the show early. He said: “Kat, the only reason I’m standing here is because of all the work you’ve put into me. You turn up every day with so many hundreds of great ideas. You challenge me, you push me, you support me. You make me laugh and then you do extraordinary things on the floor with choreography and creativity. But most of all, you’re just part of me now. I can’t look at you.”
The Strictly Come Dancing live final will air on BBC One on Saturday 16 December 2023 at 7pm.
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