Eastender Actor Jamie Borthwick's Swan Song Revealed; Spectators Harshly Censure His Exit Scene
Jamie Borthwick, a long-standing cast member of the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, has been dismissed from the show after a scandal that erupted soon into the tenure of new boss Ben Wadey. The termination of Borthwick's contract follows The Sun's revelation that he used a derogatory slur about disabled people during filming for Strictly Come Dancing.
The controversy has left many questioning the future of Borthwick's character, Jay Brown, on the show. As Jay Brown, Borthwick has been a fixture on EastEnders for 19 years, but his last appearance was in 2022, and he hasn't played a central role in the series for a while. In fact, his character has been more of a supporting one in recent times.
The video published by The Sun on Sunday showed Borthwick using a severely derogatory term, sparking outrage and calls for him to undergo "awareness training" from disability charity Scope. Borthwick quickly issued a grovelling apology to The Sun on Sunday, expressing regret for his actions.
Despite the apology, Borthwick did not return to filming after his suspension, and his final scenes on EastEnders have already aired. A BBC Studios spokesperson confirmed that Borthwick will not be returning to the show, but did not comment on the specific reasons for his departure.
It is unclear whether Borthwick's character, Jay Brown, will be erased from EastEnders' history, or how his absence will affect the interactions of his on-screen family, including Nicola Mitchell and Lexi Pearce. What is certain is that Borthwick's departure from EastEnders marks a significant shift in the show's cast, and the future of his character remains uncertain.
In the meantime, Borthwick has been keeping busy outside of EastEnders, with appearances in the Strictly Christmas special in 2023 and the full series last year. It remains to be seen what the future holds for him in the world of television.
