EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick has been axed from the BBC soap after 19 years.
Borthwick, 31, portrayed the character of Jay Brown and was one of the show’s longest-serving cast members, having arrived on Albert Square in 2006.
Earlier this year, he was suspended by the BBC after using a slur against disabled people on the set of Strictly Come Dancing.
A BBC Studios spokesperson said: “We can confirm that Jamie Borthwick will not be returning to EastEnders. We do not comment on individual matters.”
BBC News has contacted Borthwick’s representatives for a comment.
According to the Mirror, Borthwick had been due to restart filming this month following his suspension.
But he has now been dropped altogether.
In June, the BBC said his language on the set of Strictly was “entirely unacceptable and in no way reflects the values or standards we hold and expect”.
At the time, Borthwick – who took part in Strictly’s 20th anniversary series last year – apologised for “any offence and upset”.
Disability charity Scope said Borthwick should reflect on what he said and educate himself.
“We hope he takes the opportunity to get to know the reality of disabled people’s lives,” said the organisation’s media manager Warren Kirwan.
Borthwick rose to fame for his portrayal of Jay Brown (previously Mitchell) in EastEnders.
He has won a British Soap Award for best dramatic performance from a young actor, and an Inside Soap Award for best actor.
The actor took part in the latest series of Strictly, where he was paired with professional dancer Michelle Tsiakkas.
It marked a return to the ballroom for him, after he won the 2023 Christmas special.
He made it through to Blackpool week – seen as a key milestone in the contest – but was voted off later in November, making him the ninth celebrity to leave the show.
EastEnders‘ executive producer Ben Wadey has teased groundbreaking new stories for the soap.
Having taken over the role from Chris Clenshaw earlier this year, Wadey has already put his stamp on the show. The new exec received huge praise from fans with the return of some familiar faces on the Square.
But if you’re concerned that Zoe Slater and Max Branning’s appearances are purely for shock value, rest assured that Wadey has a greater plan in mind.
Speaking to RadioTimes at the National Television Awards, Wadey teased what’s ahead for the fan-favourite characters now that they’re back home.
“We’ve got Zoe back in the show, and we’ve got Max, we’ve got so many amazing clans right now,” he said.
Related: Best streaming services in 2025
“We’re really trying to just put heartfelt stories and actually some slightly unusual territory for us – and some soap firsts – at the forefront of the show. So I think watch this space. We’ve got some really interesting stories.”
When addressing if the returns could lead to more classic characters making a comeback, Wadey didn’t rule anything out.
“We’ve just brought back Zoe and Max. Let’s enjoy them for the time being. But never say never!” he teased.
The executive producer previously spoke to Digital Spy about Zoe and Kat’s long-awaited reunion. He explained that Kat will slowly unravel Zoe’s “complicated” past as she gets to know her adult daughter.
“There’s a lot for them to get to understand about each other. Zoe has a lot of secrets that she’s going to bring into the Square with her. So the Slaters are in for a whole ride this autumn – and there’s a lot to kick off there,” he added.
EastEnders airs on Mondays-Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.
