Nigel Harman has revealed 'EastEnders' bosses held meetings over whether Dennis Rickman could punch Phil Mitchell.
Steve McFadden
The 47-year-old actor - who appeared on the BBC soap from 2003 to 2005 - admitted producers were "faffing about" to decide whether it was acceptable for his character to hit Steve McFadden's legendary alter ego early on in his Albert Square stint.
Appearing on BBC Two's 'The Noughties', he said: "It was my first episode and I remember there was a whole to-do whether or not Phil Mitchell could be punched.
"I mean there was meetings about it. I remember it very clearly, there was a lot of what I’d call faffing about it."
The former soap star heaped praise on veteran Steve, noting he "was great to work with", and he also enjoyed the opportunity to work with June Brown (Dot Cotton).
He added: "I spent a lot of time with her over the years, which was fantastic. She's just legendary.
"She used to come on set when she had big scenes and she would know inside out what her character was doing, where she'd been.
"She'd reach back 15 years and say why this line wouldn't work. She was very good at editing her part and putting it together brilliantly."
Nigel's character was killed off on New Year's Eve in 2005, but he has previously revealed he's up for a comeback because Dennis' son with adopted sister Sharon (Letitia Dean) still lives on in the soap.
He explained: "We would have to come up with a storyline, but I loved it. It would be difficult to find a storyline that was believable. Maybe a twin?"
However, Nigel hasn't kept up to date with goings-on in the square over the years.
He added: "I did in and out. I don't really watch it enough to fully [get] the storylines."
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