Jamie Borthwick

Last updated

Jamie Borthwick
Jamie Borthwick 2016.jpg
Borthwick in 2016
Born
Jamie Simon Borthwick

(1994-06-23) 23 June 1994 (age 31)
Barking, London, England
OccupationActor
Years active2005–present
Known forRole of Jay Brown in EastEnders

Jamie Simon Borthwick (born 23 June 1994) is an English actor. He rose to prominence for his portrayal of Jay Brown in the BBC soap opera EastEnders , in which he appeared from 2006 to 2025. For his portrayal of the character, he won the British Soap Award for Best Dramatic Performance from a Young Actor or Actress in 2008. He was a contestant on the twenty-second series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2024, after winning the Christmas Special the previous year.

Contents

Early life

Borthwick was born on 23 June 1994 in Barking, London to Sharon (née Thomas) and Simon Borthwick. [1] The oldest of three children, he has two younger sisters, Samantha and Charlee. [2] He attended Sylvia Young Theatre School until he was 16. [3] [4]

Career

Borthwick's first appearance on television was as an orphan in the Celebrate Oliver! musical alongside Shane Richie and Joseph McManners in December 2005. [5] The following year, Borthwick had a minor role in the BBC sitcom Not Going Out . [6] He was subsequently cast as Jay Brown in the BBC soap opera EastEnders and made his first appearance in December 2006. [7] He also appeared in an episode of Gina's Laughing Gear in 2007. [8] Borthwick won the award for "Best Dramatic Performance from a Young Actor or Actress" at the 2008 British Soap Awards for his portrayal of Jay and dedicated it to his late grandmother, who died one day prior to his win. [9]

In December 2023, Borthwick took part in the Strictly Come Dancing 2023 Christmas Special. [10] He was paired with professional dancer Nancy Xu and the couple danced a quickstep, achieving the maximum 40 points from the judges and winning the competition. [11] The following year, he was announced as a contestant on the twenty-second series of the main show and was paired with professional dancer Michelle Tsiakkas. They were the ninth couple to be eliminated in the tenth week. [12] [13]

In June 2025, Borthwick was suspended from EastEnders by the BBC after a backstage video from Strictly Come Dancing in November 2024, surfaced showing him referring to the inhabitants of Blackpool by using ableist language considered derogatory toward disabled individuals. The BBC described his language as "entirely unacceptable" and said it did not reflect their values or standards. He issued a public apology in a statement to The Sun on Sunday , expressing regret for his words and acknowledging the offence they had caused. [14] [15] In September 2025, it was announced that Borthwick had been axed from the soap after 19 years, and would not return from his suspension. [16]

Personal life

Borthwick carried boxer Kevin Mitchell's championship belt into the boxing ring prior to a bout in July 2007. [17] He is a second cousin to former EastEnders co-star Charlie Winter, who played Hunter Owen. [18] Borthwick supports Premier League football club West Ham United. [19] In January 2019, it was announced that he would be running the London Marathon with some of his EastEnders co-stars for a dementia campaign in honour of Barbara Windsor. [20]

In May 2021, Borthwick was caught speeding in Romford, and he was subsequently given a driving ban. His lawyer appealed the ban, stating that Borthwick is recognised while using public transport, and "not all of these encounters are favourable". The ban was subsequently removed. [21]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotesRef(s)
2005Celebrate Oliver!OrphanTelevision film [22]
2006 Not Going Out Aggressive Boy / Young Chav2 episodes [22]
2006–2025 EastEnders Jay Brown Regular role [23]
2007 Gina's Laughing Gear BoyEpisode: "Driving Me Mad" [24]
2013 Jedward's Big Adventure HimselfEpisode: "Cheddar Gorge" [25]
2013 12 Again HimselfEpisode: "EastEnders" [22]
2014, 2015, 2017 This Morning HimselfGuest; 3 episodes [22]
2018 Pointless Celebrities HimselfContestant; 1 episode [26]
2019 Soccer AM HimselfGuest; 2 episodes [22]
2020We Love Only Fools and HorsesHimselfDocumentary; 1 episode [22]
2023 The One Show HimselfGuest; 1 episode [22]
2023 Strictly Come Dancing HimselfWinner; 2023 Christmas Special [27]
2024Contestant; series 22 [28]
2024 The Chase: Celebrity Special HimselfContestant; 1 episode [29]
2025 The Hit List HimselfContestant; 1 episode [30]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardRoleCategoryResultRef.
2007 Inside Soap Awards Jay Brown EastEndersBest Young ActorNominated [31]
2008 Digital Spy Soap Awards Jay Brown EastEndersBest Child Actor (Under 16)Nominated [32]
2008 The British Soap Awards Jay Brown EastEndersBest Dramatic Performance from a Young Actor or ActressWon [9]
2008Inside Soap Awards Jay Brown EastEndersBest Young ActorNominated [33]
2009Inside Soap Awards Jay Brown EastEndersBest Young ActorNominated [34]
2016 Digital Spy Reader Awards Jay Brown EastEndersBiggest Unsung HeroSecond [35]
2022Digital Spy Reader Awards Jay Brown EastEndersBest Soap Actor (Male)Won [36]
2023British Soap Awards Jay Brown EastEnders Best Leading Performer Nominated [37]
2023British Soap Awards Jay Brown

Lola Pearce EastEnders

 Best On-Screen Partnership (with Danielle Harold)Shortlisted [38]
2023Inside Soap Awards Jay Brown EastEndersBest ActorWon [39]
2023 TVTimes Awards Jay Brown EastEndersFavourite Soap ActorNominated [40]
2023 Digital Spy Reader Awards Jay Brown Lola Pearce EastEndersBest Soap Couple (with Danielle Harold)Second [41]
2024 TV Choice Awards Jay Brown EastEndersBest Soap ActorShortlisted [42]

References

  1. ↑ Smith, Ryan (17 March 2020). "How EastEnders star's mum is helping working class kids in East London". My London. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  2. ↑ "EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick shares new addition to family". Digital Spy . 20 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  3. ↑ Hibbs, James. "EastEnders' Jamie Borthwick on why prior training won't help him on Strictly | Radio Times". Radio Times . Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  4. ↑ "The EastEnders star whose Strictly casting might irk purists". The Independent . Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  5. ↑ Seeberg, Lea Dzifa (11 January 2023). "EastEnders' Jamie Borthwick unrecognisable in lost role where he beat Lee Mack". My London . Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  6. ↑ "Jamie Borthwick - filmography". Plex.tv. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  7. ↑ "7 times EastEnders' Jay NEARLY had a huge storyline". Digital Spy . 2 August 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  8. ↑ Morgan, Laura (14 November 2022). "Jamie Borthwick — things you didn't know about the EastEnders and Strictly star". What to Watch . Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  9. 1 2 "Hollyoaks top soap award winners". BBC. 4 May 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
  10. ↑ "Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2023 - Everything you need to know". BBC Media Centre . Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  11. ↑ "Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2023 winner revealed". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  12. ↑ "BBC One - Strictly Come Dancing - Jamie Borthwick". BBC.
  13. ↑ Hallam, Katy (24 November 2024). "Strictly fans call for change to rules after 'saddest elimination of the series'". Birmingham Live.
  14. ↑ Nanji, Noor (7 June 2025). "Strictly Come Dancing's Jamie Borthwick suspended over offensive language". BBC News. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  15. ↑ Morris, Sasha (8 June 2025). "Strictly Jamie Borthwick gives statement as BBC suspends him over slur". Daily Express. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  16. ↑ Nanji, Noor (6 September 2025). "Jamie Borthwick axed from EastEnders after 19 years". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  17. ↑ "Kevin Mitchell Looking Towards Big Things". Boxing Scene. 11 July 2007.
  18. ↑ "EastEnders' star Jamie Borthwick reveals which co-star he is related to". Digital Spy. 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  19. ↑ "Soccer AM - Jamie Borthwick" . Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  20. ↑ "EastEnders stars to run marathon for Dame Barbara Windsor". BBC News . 8 January 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  21. ↑ "BBC EastEnders star's driving ban cut because he 'gets recognised on public transport'". Birmingham Mail . (Reach plc). Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Jamie Borthwick – Filmography". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  23. ↑ "BBC One - EastEnders - Jay Brown". BBC . Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  24. ↑ "CBBC - Gina's Laughing Gear, Series 1, Driving Me Mad". BBC . Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  25. ↑ "Jedward filming at Cheddar Gorge today". Somerset County Gazette. 10 January 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  26. ↑ "BBC One - Pointless Celebrities, Series 11, EastEnders". BBC . Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  27. ↑ Isgin, Kieran (25 December 2023). "Strictly fans say 'finally' as Jamie Borthwick and Nancy Xu win festive special". Manchester Evening News . Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  28. ↑ "Jamie Borthwick is the tenth celebrity contestant confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2024". BBC . Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  29. ↑ "The Chase: Celebrity Special, Series 13, Episode 8". ITVX . Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  30. ↑ "BBC One - The Hit List, Series 7, Episode 9: Celebrity Special". BBC . Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  31. ↑ Green, Kris (3 July 2007). "Inside Soap Awards 2007: The Nominations". Digital Spy . Hachette Filipacchi (UK) Ltd. Archived from the original on 21 June 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  32. ↑ Green, Kris (21 March 2008). "Digital Spy Soap Awards 2008: The Winners". Digital Spy . Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  33. ↑ "Inside Soap Awards 2008 – Nominations". MSN . Microsoft. 16 July 2008. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  34. ↑ "Inside soap awards nominations". 8 July 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  35. ↑ Eames, Tom (24 December 2016). "Your Digital Spy Reader Awards soap winners of 2016: Emmerdale wins six awards". Digital Spy . Hearst Magazines UK . Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  36. ↑ Rowan, Iona (27 December 2022). "EastEnders wins big at the Digital Spy Reader Awards 2022". Digital Spy .
  37. ↑ Cormack, Morgan (11 April 2023). "British Soap Awards 2023 longlist: EastEnders' Ravi vs Corrie's Stephen". Radio Times . Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  38. ↑ Barrett, Kerry (2 May 2023). "The British Soap Awards 2023: shortlist nominations, categories, how to vote and all we know". (Future plc). Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  39. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (4 July 2023). "Inside Soap Awards 2023 announces full list of nominees". Digital Spy . Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  40. ↑ Selwood, Sarah. "TV Times Awards 2023 — voting is now open!". What to Watch . Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  41. ↑ Rowan, Iona (20 December 2023). "Awards 2023". Digital Spy .
  42. ↑ "TV Choice Awards nominees 2024: All Creatures Great and Small, Happy Valley and James Martin all up for awards" . Retrieved 13 November 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.