Tom Chambers marries at Repton School (with picture slideshow)

By fwinrow catherine oakes coakes@derbytelegraph.co.uk

HOLBY City heart-throb Tom Chambers went from being the best man to the groom at the weekend.

He wiped the dancefloor with his rivals on Saturday night's Strictly Come Dancing show and then married fiancee Clare Harding yesterday.

The 31-year-old actor wowed the BBC1 judges with his American smooth – a dance he had always wanted to master to be like his hero, Fred Astaire.

The following day, he returned to Derbyshire to get married at Repton School.

Before the ceremony, Tom, who had moved the wedding from Saturday because of his commitment to Strictly, went to speak to well-wishers who gathered outside the chapel.

He greeted them by saying: "I don't know what you're all doing here, I'm just a local lad!"

The star, who grew up in Parwich, where his parents still live, told the Evening Telegraph: "It was a relief to get through to the next round because we moved the date and now it's all worthwhile.

"I have performed my favourite dance and married the woman of my dreams. They've been the two happiest days of my life.

"I want to say thanks to everyone in Derbyshire for voting and I'm incredibly grateful to them. It's been a dream come true."

This week saw the male and female celebrities go head-to-head for the first time in a bid to win the Strictly crown.

Following his faultless performance alongside dance partner Camilla Dallerup, Tom found himself sharing the top of the leaderboard with model Lisa Snowdon.

Hours later, he was saying his vows during a private ceremony surrounded by family and friends.

Clare, who arrived in a black cab, had nervously watched her husband-to-be's performance with her bridal party at the Boot Inn, in Repton.

The 26-year-old said: "The past two days have been better than I ever imagined.

"Seeing Tom dance the way he did on Saturday night was amazing and then walking down the aisle the next day and seeing him there waiting for me was so emotional."

After the ceremony, the pair left in Clare's vintage Fiat car, which Tom bought for her. Last week, she had driven it up the motorway from London to Derbyshire with her wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses.

Tom and Clare first met when he was 20 and she was 15. It wasn't until they both cheated death that they finally admitted their feelings.

Tom was on a hijacked plane that almost crashed and TV researcher Clare ended up in hospital after a car accident.

The couple, who were taught a few dance moves to perform at the reception by Camilla, will have just 24 hours together before being joined by Tom's dance partner at their hotel so the pair can start training for next week's performance.