EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick has been confirmed as a contestant on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, a move that is causing some controversy among purists of the show. The 30-year-old actor, who won the Strictly Christmas special with Nancy Xu in December 2023, is no stranger to the dance floor. The duo impressed the judges with a perfect score of 40 points for their Quickstep performance.
Borthwick will be joining a lineup that includes presenter Nick Knowles, singer Toyah Willcox, and model Tasha Ghouri. Best known for his role as Jay Brown on EastEnders, a character he has portrayed since 2006, Borthwick’s acting talents have earned him accolades, including a British Soap Award in 2008 for “Best Dramatic Performance from a Young Actor or Actress.”
Aside from his television work, Borthwick is also recognised for his philanthropic efforts. In 2019, he participated in the London Marathon alongside his EastEnders co-stars to raise awareness for dementia in honour of Barbara Windsor. Furthermore, earlier this year, he ran the London Marathon in character to raise awareness about brain tumours.
Addressing rumours about a romance with co-star Danielle Harold, who appeared on last year’s I’m a Celebrity, Borthwick has kept a light-hearted approach, with Harold dismissing the speculations as amusing. Despite rumours of their relationship, Borthwick remains focused on his career and upcoming challenges.
Reflecting on his upcoming stint on Strictly, Borthwick expressed his excitement for the new experience, stating, “This is a fresh challenge… I’m hoping to be Salsa-ing around Albert Square in no time.” He also mentioned seeking advice from former Strictly participants who hailed from Walford.
In light of his past dance experience, some critics have drawn parallels to previous contestants who faced backlash due to their dance backgrounds. However, Borthwick remains undeterred and eager to showcase his dancing skills to the public.
As the Strictly competition heats up, fans will undoubtedly be waiting eagerly to see how Borthwick fares on the dancefloor and whether his prior dancing experience will give him an edge over the other contestants.