Strictly’s Jamie Borthwick confirms future on EastEnders ahead of BBC show debut

Jamie Borthwick has confirmed that he won’t be taking a break on EastEnders – and that he’ll be toughing it out over the next few months on Strictly with his busy schedule.

The actor, 30, has played character Jay Brown since 2006 – since he was around 12 years old. But he won’t be leaving Albert Square in a black cab anytime soon and will follow in the footsteps of Scott Maslen, Kellie Bright and many other stars by dancing through the pain.

“I’m not taking a break no,” he said. “I’m still there so I’m doing both shows but we’re lucky – EastEnders is literally filmed across the road, there’s not far to go and I’ve just budgeted that I’m going to be a bit N/A for the next however long. But again, I’m used to it all really, I’ve been doing it a long time so it’s good, it’s nothing scary.”

Asked if he had received any advice from his co-stars, he replied: “Scott Maslen did it back in 2010 I think – he just told me to eat everything, he was constantly eating all the time. So I’m taking that. But yeah, everyone who’s done it has said it’s just a fantastic experience and told me to just enjoy it , so I’m trying to enjoy every single second of it.”

It was only last year that Jamie took part in the Strictly Christmas special – but insists that he’s forgotten everything he had been taught as training had only been two weeks long. “I’ll be honest, it feels like so much has happened since then I’ve kind of forgotten everything,” he said. “I’m hoping it’ll be like riding a bike and that it’ll come back, but I’ve kind of forgot most of it. Although loads has happened since then it doesn’t seem that long ago, how quickly six months go. We were there for two weeks [training], which is not long.”

Jamie had been partnered up with Nancy Xu and impressed judges and viewers alike when he scored the highest possible mark of 40 in the Christmas show. It’s the first time a performer on the festive special; has gone directly into the competition.

During last year’s series, Jamie’s co-star Bobby Brazier took part in Strictly with professional Dianne Buswell on his arm. The Freddie Slater star had received the support of Jamie – who also revealed he had turned down Strictly bosses in September, 2023. “They have asked me actually”, Jamie told OK! Magazine at the time. “I can’t remember what year, 2018 I think. But it didn’t work out so I didn’t end up doing it. But… yeah.”