Sam Thompson supports girlfriend Zara McDermott with pictures of her face on his shirt while Katya Jones beams with delight as the stars head home after the first Strictly live show
Saturday night saw the first Strictly Come Dancing live show of the series thrill BBC viewers across the country.
And as the stars headed home, Made In Chelsea's Sam Thompson, 31, supported girlfriend Zara McDermott, 26, with pictures of her face on his shirt.
Professional dancer Katya Jones, 34, beamed with delight as she put her toned pins on display while being whisked away in a chauffer-driven car.
Tess Daly, 54 - who has been fronting the show since its launch back in 2004 - looked happier than ever, as did her husband Vernon Kay, 49.
Ant McPartlin's ex-wife Lisa Armstrong, 46, was spotted leaving, after having used her skills to apply gorgeous make-up to the Strictly stars.
![Biggest fan: Sam Thompson , 31, supported girlfriend Zara McDermott , 26, with pictures of her face on his shirt after the first Strictly Come Dancing live show of the series, on Saturday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/24/09/75775877-12554571-image-a-147_1695542717223.jpg)
Biggest fan: Sam Thompson , 31, supported girlfriend Zara McDermott , 26, with pictures of her face on his shirt after the first Strictly Come Dancing live show of the series, on Saturday
![Loving life: Katya Jones , 34, beamed with delight as she put her toned pins on display while being whisked away in a chauffer-driven car](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/24/09/75775879-12554571-image-a-144_1695542699422.jpg)
Loving life: Katya Jones , 34, beamed with delight as she put her toned pins on display while being whisked away in a chauffer-driven car
![All good: TOWIE star Pete Wicks gave a thumbs up after ditching is shirt covered in Zara's face](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/24/10/75777637-12554571-All_good_TOWIE_star_Pete_Wicks_gave_a_thumbs_up_after_ditching_i-m-65_1695549536341.jpg)
All good: TOWIE star Pete Wicks gave a thumbs up after ditching is shirt covered in Zara's face
Nigel Harman has emerged as an early favourite to win Strictly Come Dancing as he topped the leaderboard during week one on Saturday.
The actor, 50, was proclaimed by judge Shirley Ballas as 'the one to beat' after he performed an outstanding pasodoble with dance partner Katya Jones.
The Casualty star danced to Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit and received universal praise from all four judges and received a score of 32 out of 40.
'That was the dance of the night,' proclaimed 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 it's not easy for the star who has to close the show.
While he is tipped to be the pin-up of the series, Nigel, who attended £24,000-a-year Dulwich College, is unlikely to fall victim of the show's much discussed 'Strictly curse'.
He is happily married to actress Lucy Liemann, 49, who has starred in The Bill and Agatha Christie's Poirot, as well as in the third Jason Bourne film, The Bourne Ultimatum.
Nigel was the centre of a controversial Downton Abbey storyline, in 2013, where his character was seen hitting lady's maid Anna – played by Joanne Froggatt – in the face and dragging her into a room in a violent rape scene.
![Good times: Tess Daly, 54 - who has been fronting the show since its launch back in 2004 - looked happier than ever](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/24/09/75775957-12554571-image-a-150_1695542799634.jpg)
Good times: Tess Daly, 54 - who has been fronting the show since its launch back in 2004 - looked happier than ever
![Loving it: Her husband, Vernon Kay was equally chipper on his ride home](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/24/09/75775941-12554571-image-a-151_1695542809828.jpg)
Loving it: Her husband, Vernon Kay was equally chipper on his ride home
![Smiley: Graziano Di Prima , 29. flashed his pearly whites after the first live show](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/24/09/75775967-12554571-image-a-148_1695542771554.jpg)
Smiley: Graziano Di Prima , 29. flashed his pearly whites after the first live show
![Talented: Ant McPartlin's ex-wife Lisa Armstrong was spotted leaving, after having used her skills to apply gorgeous make-up to the Strictly stars](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/24/09/75775947-12554571-image-a-149_1695542792875.jpg)
Talented: Ant McPartlin's ex-wife Lisa Armstrong was spotted leaving, after having used her skills to apply gorgeous make-up to the Strictly stars
![Trendy: Giovanni Pernice, 33, rocked a leather jacket over a band tee](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/24/09/75775951-12554571-image-a-154_1695542843081.jpg)
Trendy: Giovanni Pernice, 33, rocked a leather jacket over a band tee
![Darling! Craig Revel Horwood, 58, looked pleased to have dished out his first live critiques](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/24/09/75775969-12554571-image-a-162_1695542917474.jpg)
Darling! Craig Revel Horwood, 58, looked pleased to have dished out his first live critiques
![Gorgeous: Angela Rippon, 78, was glowing after a successful first show routine](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/24/10/75775975-12554571-Gorgeous_Angela_Rippon_78_was_glowing_after_a_successful_first_s-a-19_1695546814214.jpg)
Gorgeous: Angela Rippon, 78, was glowing after a successful first show routine
![Tense: Irish presenter Angela Scanlon, 39, looked up from her phone as she left the TV studios](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/24/09/75775959-12554571-image-a-156_1695542857100.jpg)
Tense: Irish presenter Angela Scanlon, 39, looked up from her phone as she left the TV studios
![Beauty: Karen Hauer, 41, looked gorgeous in a yellow jumper](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/24/09/75775973-12554571-image-a-163_1695542935814.jpg)
Beauty: Karen Hauer, 41, looked gorgeous in a yellow jumper
![Goodbye: Johannes Radebe, 36, waved from the backseat of his ride home](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/24/09/75775943-12554571-image-a-155_1695542849883.jpg)
Goodbye: Johannes Radebe, 36, waved from the backseat of his ride home
![Catch ups: Krishnan Guru-Murthy, 53, made phone calls following his first live dance](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/24/09/75775949-12554571-image-a-157_1695542867792.jpg)
Catch ups: Krishnan Guru-Murthy, 53, made phone calls following his first live dance
![All good: Graziano Di Prima, 29, and wife Giada Lini sat side-by-side while on their phones](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/24/09/75775971-12554571-image-a-167_1695542972107.jpg)
All good: Graziano Di Prima, 29, and wife Giada Lini sat side-by-side while on their phones
![Home time: Nancy Xu was still wearing green eye shadow from her performance](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/24/09/75775953-12554571-image-a-158_1695542877830.jpg)
Home time: Nancy Xu was still wearing green eye shadow from her performance
![Happy: Pro dancer Lauren Oakley waved as she made her way home](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/24/09/75775963-12554571-image-a-159_1695542888954.jpg)
Happy: Pro dancer Lauren Oakley waved as she made her way home
![Hot couple: She left with her husband, Maximiliano Omar Montes de Oca](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/24/09/75775945-12554571-image-a-152_1695542825467.jpg)
Hot couple: She left with her husband, Maximiliano Omar Montes de Oca
![Supported: West End star Layton Williams, 29, was joined by loved ones following the live show](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/24/09/75775965-12554571-image-a-161_1695542908730.jpg)
Supported: West End star Layton Williams, 29, was joined by loved ones following the live show
![Cute: Dianne Buswell, 34, was joined by her boyfriend, and former Strictly celeb Joe Sugg, 32](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/24/09/75775961-12554571-image-a-160_1695542896032.jpg)
Cute: Dianne Buswell, 34, was joined by her boyfriend, and former Strictly celeb Joe Sugg, 32
![Best buds: Pete and Sam strolled off together after sitting in the audience for the first live show](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/24/11/75777639-12554571-Best_buds_Pete_and_Sam_strolled_off_together_after_sitting_in_th-m-67_1695549598431.jpg)
Best buds: Pete and Sam strolled off together after sitting in the audience for the first live show
But earlier this year, Nigel returned to the BBC, joining the cast of Casualty, where he plays charming clinical lead doctor Max Christie.
Among many stage credits Nigel has performed in Guys and Dolls in London's West End and Shrek the Musical, which he then went on to direct for the UK tour.
His film work includes roles in Blood Diamond, Telstar, and The Outsiders for ITV.
After he was confirmed as a contesntat, 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!'