harman was working as a lorry driver for supermarket chain sainsbury when he was cast in the role of dennis rickman: "they said: 'you've got the job.' i was sitting there in my sainsbury's fleece, with mrs bloggs's groceries in the back, and i just laughed my arse off." however, harman revealed in a 2003 interview that he actually auditioned for a character called "tim", and had no idea that he was set to join the watts family as the unknown son of the soap's most "iconic" figure, den watts. part of harman's appeal lay in his dark good looks and appealing physicality. "eastenders" executive producer louise berridge noted: "we cast nigel for his tremendous acting ability and his screen presence, but there's no question he's also a very sexy young man." in an interview with "the independent" in 2003 he commented on his character's status as a sex symbol: "it's dennis, not me... i am a bit embarrassed... i don't get off on it. i walk into the living-room in the morning in my jogging pants, with my hair all over the place, and my flatmates say: 'so, you're supposed to be one of the sexiest men in the country?' and i go: 'i know. i don't get it either.'"