Strictly Come Dancing's Nigel Harman has quit his role on hospital soap Casualty after just one year.
The 50-year-old actor, who plays Dr Max Cristie made the announcement – which is sure to be disappointing to some of his fans – over the weekend.
Nigel said: “My time on Casualty is done for the time being. I’m on screen until February and there are no plans for me to come back at the moment.”
It comes after it was revealed that Nigel is one of the celebrities to have signed up to appear on this Strictly, which starts later this month.
The news was announced by Christine Lampard who was guest-presenting Lorraine Kelly's self-named show, Lorraine, and Nigel also made an appearance.
Speaking to Christine at the time, Nigel said: “I'm amazed, excited, and terrified to be doing Strictly. 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!“
He then told Christine: “In my mind I think I'm a better dancer than my body is telling me.“
Nigel is no stranger to the world of TV, having appeared in EastEnders and Downton Abbey, but he admitted that the prospect of doing Strictly as himself is daunting.
He said: “I’ve spent my whole life walking onstage being someone else. I’ve always had a slight issue walking on stage being myself. It’s a complicated scenario – nervousness and self consciousness. I can’t wait to feel more confident.”
When the BBC announced that Nigel would be joining the show, it left fans swooning on Instagram.
One person wrote: "Oh hell yeah! Well that's my winner right there. Love Nigel Harman!," whilst another said: "watching for him and him only <3watching for him and him only <3"
A third said: "All my 2005 dreams have come true," whilst a fourth wrote: "YES" with a number of raised hand emojis.
A number of Strictly professionals, such as Neil Jones and Diane Buswell, also wrote messages of support, welcoming Nigel "to the family".
For those who have never watched Casualty, they will no doubt recognise Nigel from his time playing Dennis Rickman on EastEnders from 2003 to 2005.
In a rather controversial storyline, he fell in love with, then married, his adoptive sister, Sharon, who is played by Letitia Dean.
Their union didn't have a happy ending, however, as Dennis died in Sharon's arms on New Year's Day after he was stabbed by Danny Moon.
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