Jamie Borthwick: BBC Suspends EastEnders Star Over Strictly Slur
- Jamie Borthwick, known for his role as Jay Brown on EastEnders, faces suspension from the BBC after a video surfaced of him using a disabled slur.
- The BBC has condemned Borthwick's language as "entirely unacceptable" and not reflective of the broadcaster's values.
- Warren Kirwan, media manager at disability equality charity Scope, also criticized Borthwick's remarks.
Jamie Borthwick, the EastEnders star, faces suspension from the BBC following the use of a disabled slur on the Strictly Come Dancing set, as confirmed. The actor, known for his role as Jay Brown, reportedly made the offensive remark during filming in Blackpool. The BBC has swiftly condemned Borthwick’s language, emphasizing its commitment to upholding its values, which is a sign of a robust ethics policy. Borthwick has since issued a sincere apology for his inappropriate words, admitting he did not fully comprehend the term’s meaning. This situation echoes an earlier incident involving Wynne Evans, adding another layer of complexity to the situation. for extensive news and updates, News Directory 3 is your source. Discover what’s next for the actor and the impact of this decision.
Jamie Borthwick Suspended by BBC After Disabled Slur on Strictly Set
Updated June 8, 2025
Jamie Borthwick, known for his role as Jay Brown on EastEnders, faces suspension from the BBC after a video surfaced of him using a disabled slur. The incident reportedly occurred during the filming of Strictly Come Dancing in Blackpool last November.
The BBC has condemned Borthwick’s language as “entirely unacceptable” and not reflective of the broadcaster’s values. A spokesperson stated that the BBC has “robust processes in place for this.”
Warren Kirwan, media manager at disability equality charity Scope, also criticized Borthwick’s remarks. Kirwan emphasized that such attitudes and language are harmful and perpetuate negative stereotypes against disabled people.
Borthwick has since issued an apology, stating, “I want to apologise sincerely and wholeheartedly for the words I used in the video showing my reaction to making it through Blackpool week on Strictly.” He further admitted to not fully understanding the derogatory term and its meaning, expressing deep embarrassment.
The EastEnders actor, who won the Strictly 2023 Christmas special, also received recognition at the Inside Soap Awards for his role in the “Loving And Losing Lola” storyline, which addressed Lola Pearce-Brown’s brain tumor diagnosis.
This incident follows a similar situation involving Welsh opera singer Wynne Evans, who was dropped by BBC Radio Wales after using “inappropriate language” during a Strictly Come Dancing tour launch. evans claimed the comment, a nickname for Borthwick, was misinterpreted.
What’s next
The BBC has not specified the length of Borthwick’s suspension. It remains to be seen how this incident will affect his future appearances on EastEnders and other BBC programs.