Strictly's Jamie Borthwick branded 'cheat' by co-star

4 days ago

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Written by Codie Bullen for Mailonline

Released: 21:48 BST, September 14, 2024 | Revised: 22:17 BST, September 14, 2024

During the launch show on Saturday, one of Jamie Borthwick's fellow contestants on Strictly Come Dancing accused him of being a 'cheat.'

He will be back on the BBC show after his participation in last year's Christmas Special, where he won the title alongside professional dancer Nancy Xu.

Things got a bit uncomfortable in the first episode of the series when Jamie was labeled a 'cheat' for having participated in the show before.

Host Tess Daley remarked to Jamie, "Jamie, you got a glimpse of Strictly last Christmas." At that moment, co-star Wynne Evans jumped in with a playful comment, saying, "Cheat!" followed by a cough.

In another part of the conversation, Pete Wicks made a sarcastic comment about Jamie, saying, "I'm already committed, so I might as well go all the way, right? It's not like I'll get the chance to come back, unless I'm with Jamie."

Jamie Borthwick was called a 'cheat' by one of his fellow contestants from Strictly Come Dancing during the launch event on Saturday, where he was seen with his professional partner Michelle Tsiakkas.

He is making a comeback to Strictly Come Dancing after participating in last year's Christmas Special, where he was named the champion alongside professional dancer Nancy Xu.

Jamie gained popularity for his role as Jay Brown/Mitchell in EastEnders, a position he has held since 2006, making him one of the show's longest-running actors.

In 2008, his performance in EastEnders won him a British Soap Award for Best Dramatic Performance by a Young Actor. Later, in 2023, he received the Best Actor award at the Inside Soap Awards.

Jamie expressed nothing but positive sentiments about Strictly, commending the show as it gears up for its 20th anniversary season.

The 30-year-old EastEnders star is set to join the newest cast after clinching victory in the Christmas special with his partner Nancy Xu in 2023.

As the soap star gears up for the live performances, he revealed that he's bonding well with his new partner, even though he’s feeling sore in parts of his body he never knew could hurt.

In an interview with MailOnline during the National Television Awards on Wednesday, Jamie expressed his enthusiasm for the show, calling it 'amazing.' He admitted, "I'm having a great time with it so far. I'm feeling soreness in areas I didn't even realize I could!"

"Strictly has its own charm. It's a delightful program that spreads joy, and I feel grateful to be involved in it."

The past year has been filled with controversy for the show, as the findings from the BBC's internal probe into claims about Giovanni Pernice are expected to be released soon.

The first episode of the series took an unexpected twist when Jamie was labeled a 'cheat' for having made an earlier appearance on the show.

Host Tess mentioned to Jamie, "Jamie, you got a sneak peek of Strictly last Christmas." At that moment, co-star Wynne Evans chimed in, playfully saying, "Cheater!" before he coughed.

In another instance, Pete Wicks made a comment aimed at Jamie, stating, "I’m all in for this, Pete. I won’t be back here again, unless I’m with Jamie."

In an interview with MailOnline during the NTAs on Wednesday, Jamie expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "I'm having a great time! I’m feeling sore in spots I didn’t even realize could hurt. Strictly is truly enchanting. It’s a wonderful show that brings joy to many, and I’m just thrilled to be involved."

Jamie gained popularity for his role as Jay Brown/Mitchell in EastEnders, a character he's played since 2006. He is now among the longest-tenured actors on the series.

Reflecting on the debate, Jamie remarked, "I wasn't present during that period. I can only share my experiences from the times I've visited, and it has been an incredible place to be."

I participated in the Christmas show, and it was truly amazing. What really drew me back for the series was the wonderful atmosphere.

"There's definitely nothing negative to say about it."

Even though Jamie secured victory in the Christmas special with his impressive 40-point quickstep, he maintained that this festive performance doesn’t provide him with any edge over the other competitors.

He humorously remarked, "It’s going to be interesting when I take the stage and show that I'm not that impressive. Everyone will realize that this idea of having an advantage isn’t true at all. We're all starting from the same point now."