Strictly Come Dancing's Jamie Borthwick faces 'extra pressure' days before live show

EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick, who plays Jay Brown on the BBC soap, has shared how he is feeling ahead of his Quickstep on Strictly Come Dancing this weekend

Jamie Borthwick has shared his nerves about Strictly Come Dancing this week.

The beloved actor from EastEnders is taking part in the current series of the much-loved BBC dance competition and has been paired with professional Michelle Tsiakkas. Last week, they sailed through with their Rumba and are now gearing up for the Quickstep.

Jamie is feeling the heat though, as he previously triumphed in the Christmas special with a Quickstep performance, which earned him the coveted Glitterball Trophy. Reflecting on this, Michelle mentioned: "We've got the Quickstep this week, which he won the Christmas special with," with Jamie adding: "That means there's extra pressure this week," and Michelle agreeing: "It needs to level up."

Michelle also teased what audiences could anticipate, promising: "We've got more technique in there, more difficult elements in there."

Reflecting on his journey to the main show, Jamie divulged how he almost joined a few years earlier but ended up coming back after impressing during the festive edition. He recounted: "I went and spoke to Strictly in 2018 when you go and have an audition with the lovely Amy Dowden. We didn't do it that year. When the Christmas show came around, I was like - well that's not that bad. I did the Christmas show, loved it. Enjoyed every second and I was hoping they would ask me to do the main show."

He candidly expressed his initial trepidation and subsequent transformation during performances, saying: "When we did the Christmas special, I thought I can't do this - but then the music happened and you just go. I thought it was bad on the Christmas show but the live show is wow!"

In a candid conversation with The Mirror, Jamie vehemently dismissed any notion of a 'Strictly curse', emphasising that his dance partner Michelle is akin to family, reports the Express.

He explained: "The idea of that whole Strictly curse, well it's definitely not going to be a thing here because it would be weird doing that with my sister. Michelle and I met before Strictly and we instantly had a connection. But she is like a sister, an aunt, a mum, a best friend. She's looking after me, she's mothering me."

"Her boyfriend doesn't know it yet because we've never met, but he's my rock already. I've been looking him up, watching him dance on his shows and I'm like, 'Mate, you're my icon'. He's an absolutely fantastic dancer."

Jamie also confessed that the intensity of Strictly has taken its toll, as he juggles the gruelling rehearsals with his longstanding role on the BBC soap.

Having participated in the Christmas special, Jamie acknowledged the heightened challenge of the full live show.

"Everyone's really making that known but this is a totally different ballgame. Compared to this, Christmas was an absolute doddle. Me and Nancy (Xu) were there for two weeks to learn one dance. It was brilliant but it was so easy peasy. And the Christmas show is a little bit more light hearted than the main show," he remarked.

"I only scored a 40 because it was Christmas. I'm being real, it's just my view on this whole 'Jamie's done the Christmas show so he's got an advantage'. Everything I learnt at Christmas I've completely forgotten. And the reality of doing the main show has hit me like a ton of bricks. I'm going to bed counting steps, it's always on my brain."

*Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturdays and Sundays on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.