EastEnders fan-favourite reveals he turned down Strictly Come Dancing

EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick has admitted that he was once asked to take part in Strictly Come Dancing.

The fan-favourite actor, who plays Jay Brown on the BBC One soap and has had an incredible year in Walford winning best actor at the Inside Soap Awards 2023, shared all in an exclusive interview with OK! on the red carpet on Monday, 25 September.

The Jay actor admitted that he was asked to be on the show five years ago, but while it seemed like he could be donning his ballroom dancing shoes, things didn't end up "working out".

If Jamie had signed up to the series back in 2018, he would have been competing against the likes of Steps pop star Faye Tozer, YouTuber Joe Sugg, Pussycat Dolls singer Ashley Roberts, and eventual winner and documentarian, Stacey Dooley.

Asked if he ever thought of taking part in the show as he showed his support for co-star Bobby Brazier, who has been partnered up with Dianne Buswell this year, Jamie reflected.

"They have asked me actually," the actor told OK!. "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."

Asked how he thinks Bobby will get on on the dance floor, Jamie nodded enthusiastically.

"He'll do well," the star predicted, as Jamie's co-star Max Bowden, who plays Ben Mitchell on EastEnders chimed in and called him "wicked" and "really good" on Saturday night's first live show.

"He's such an amazing kid, he's very talented, and he's got quite a lot of charm as well, which is helpful you know," the actor continued.

Unfortunately, fans probably won't get the chance to see Max don his sequins and glitter either, as he admitted he doesn't have the skills.

"I can barely string two sentences together so doing Strictly seems like a bit of a stretch," Max joked.

"But yeah if the offer's there," the star added teasingly.

Jamie went on to tease what's to come for his character on Albert Square, especially as the aftermath of Lola's death continues to be felt with all the characters.

As the duo shared details on Ben's drug plot, Jamie explained that the cast were so "present" and "together" at the time of Lola's cancer plot that things are going to be different going forward.

"What's lovely now is watching each different character's story unfold post grief, that happens," the actor explained. "Everyone deals with things differently. And the hypocrisy that comes with it.

"And I think that's what the writers have got really right," the star added.

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