Jamie Borthwick has made it clear he’s not stepping away from EastEnders any time soon. The 30-year-old actor, best known for playing Jay Brown on the long-running BBC soap since 2006, has confirmed he’ll continue juggling his role on EastEnders while also competing in the upcoming season of Strictly Come Dancing.
Despite his packed schedule, Jamie says he’s fully prepared for the challenge and isn’t taking any kind of break from his duties on EastEnders. Like several other cast members before him — including Scott Maslen and Kellie Bright — he’s ready to “dance through the pain” and push through both physically and mentally.
“I’m not taking a break, no,” Jamie confirmed. “I’m still on EastEnders, so I’m doing both shows. Luckily for me, the studio is just across the road. It’s not far to go between filming and rehearsals, so I’ve just accepted that I’ll be a bit unavailable for a while. But I’ve been doing this a long time now — it’s all good. It’s not scary or anything.”
Jamie has portrayed Jay Brown for nearly two decades, having joined the cast when he was just 12 years old. His dedication to the role and the show is evident, and fans can rest assured that Jay won’t be catching a black cab out of Albert Square any time soon.
When asked if any former EastEnders stars had given him tips for his upcoming Strictly run, Jamie shared a piece of advice that stuck with him. “Scott Maslen did the show back in 2010, I think — he just told me to eat everything! He was constantly eating, all the time,” Jamie said with a laugh. “I’ve taken that one on board. But everyone who’s done it has said it’s a fantastic experience and told me to just enjoy it. So that’s what I’m trying to do — enjoy every second.”
This isn’t Jamie’s first time on the Strictly dance floor. Last year, he appeared in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special and was paired with professional dancer Nancy Xu. The duo delivered a memorable performance and achieved a perfect score of 40 from the judges — a rare feat that wowed both viewers and the panel.
Despite his previous success, Jamie admits he doesn’t remember much of the dance training from that special. “To be honest, so much has happened since then that I’ve kind of forgotten everything,” he admitted. “I’m hoping it’ll be like riding a bike and come back to me, but yeah — I’ve forgotten most of it. It’s funny though, because even with everything that’s gone on, it doesn’t feel that long ago. Time flies. We only had two weeks of training for the Christmas special, which really isn’t that much.”
This year, Jamie makes history as the first celebrity from the Christmas edition to move directly into the main competition. It’s a big leap, but one he seems ready to embrace wholeheartedly.
Last season, his EastEnders co-star Bobby Brazier — who plays Freddie Slater — competed on Strictly with Dianne Buswell. Jamie had supported Bobby during the show and, at the time, revealed he had previously turned down the chance to compete himself. Speaking to OK! Magazine, Jamie explained, “They have asked me, actually. I think it was back in 2018, but it didn’t work out, so I didn’t end up doing it. But yeah…”
Now, with the timing finally right, Jamie is stepping into the spotlight — both on set and on the dancefloor. His fans will be thrilled to know they’ll still see him regularly on EastEnders, while also watching him take on glitter, sequins, and the judges’ scores on Strictly Come Dancing.
