Jamie Borthwick will join the 2024 cast for this year’s Strictly Come Daning Live (Picture: CelebrityPhotosUK/Cover Images)
Strictly Come Dancing and EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick has revealed details of a secret struggle which made winning the dance competition this year feel ‘impossible.’
The actor, 30, competed in last year’s Strictly with professional dance partner Michelle Tsiakkas, 29.
Having previously won the show’s 2023 Christmas special with professional dancer Nancy Xu, he had been among the favourites to take the glitterball trophy in 2024.
However, he and Michelle ultimately finished in 7th place, being eliminated following a dance-off against Olympian Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe.
Jamie, who plays used car salesman Jay Brown on EastEnders, has opened up about the pressures of the competition, revealing how he continued to film for the soap while dancing in Strictly.
And, as the strain of juggling two jobs took its toll, Jamie revealed how his performance suffered – ultimately making it ‘impossible’ for him and Michelle to win.
Jamie was partnered with Michelle Tsiakkas for this year’s competition (Picture: Backgrid)
Jamie and Michelle finished in 10th place (Picture: BBC)
Speaking to The Mirror, Jamie revealed: ‘We had moments when it was easier than others. Our last week when we left the show was a very difficult week.’
He continued: ‘If we had have got through that week, it would have been next to impossible. We made the best out of it, we worked so hard together and we got through it.’
Viewers of the BBC show were left shocked as Jamie and Michelle were eliminated, with many claiming that the pair deserved better than their finishing place.
Jamie and Michelle took the elimination in their stride (Picture: BBC)
However, there were no hard feelings on Jamie’s part. As he told host Fleur East on spin-off show It Takes Two: ‘It’s just a part of the Strictly experience.’
He continued: ‘Being top of the leaderboard, bottom of the leaderboard, dance off and to get to dance again, it’s just like, let’s go.’
‘We did our best, you did your best,’ said Michelle as she embraced her grinning dance partner. ‘One thing I can say for sure is we genuinely enjoyed every single moment,’ she added, while Jamie nodded in agreement.
Jamie will take a break from filming EastEnders to appear in the live shows (Picture: BBC)
Jamie and Michelle are taking to the dance floor again for the Strictly Come Dancing Live tour along their 2024 co-stars – although he will take some time off from EastEnders this time.
One contestant who won’t be joining the live shows is DIY SOS star Nick Knowles – who suffered a terrible injury while rehearsing with professional dancer Luba Mushtuk.
After taking a week off after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ouch!), Nick, 62,returned to the dance floor – only to be sent home by judges after struggling through a painful Charleston.
Nick Knowles was among the 2024 line-up, but was eliminated following a terrible injury (Picture: BBC)
Nick has revealed that he’s been given a timeframe for his recovery – and won’t be back to full strength for several months.
Speaking to media at the launch of Cirque du Soleil Corteo at London’s Royal Albert Hall, Nick said: ‘I’m still recovering.
‘It’s going to be, like, eight months before I’m 100% again. I think I’ll get back to doing less dangerous things like climbing mountains and riding motorbikes!’
Strictly Come Dancing champion Chris McCausland also has been unable to participate in the tour due to prior comittments.
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