EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick has revealed his desire to swap Walford for the ballroom as he expressed his dream to appear on Strictly Come Dancing. The actor, who plays Jay Brown in the long-running BBC soap, also opened up about the importance of disability representation on television.
In a candid interview, Borthwick shared his enthusiasm for the hit dancing competition, stating: "I'd love to do Strictly one day. It looks like such an incredible experience." The 28-year-old actor admitted he's been a fan of the show for years and would relish the challenge of learning new dance routines.
Breaking Barriers in Television
Borthwick, whose character Jay Brown recently faced emotional storylines including bereavement and fostering, spoke passionately about the need for better disability representation in mainstream programming. "We've come a long way, but there's still work to be done," he remarked.
The actor praised recent efforts by broadcasters to include more diverse casting but stressed that authentic representation matters more than just ticking boxes. "It's not just about having disabled characters on screen - it's about telling their stories properly and respectfully," he explained.
From Albert Square to the Dance Floor?
While Borthwick hasn't received any official approach from Strictly producers yet, he's already imagining how he might fare in the competition. "I'm not sure I'd be any good, but that's half the fun, isn't it?" he laughed. "I'd give it my all and hopefully entertain people along the way."
The soap star joins a growing list of EastEnders alumni who've taken to the Strictly dancefloor, including Jake Wood, Kellie Bright and Maisie Smith. Could Borthwick be the next Walford resident to don the sequins?
Fans of the actor took to social media to support his Strictly ambitions, with many praising his positive attitude towards disability inclusion in entertainment. One Twitter user wrote: "Jamie would be brilliant on Strictly - and what an important message it would send about ability rather than disability."
