Danny Borthwick Joins ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ Amidst Controversy

Danny Borthwick, an actor renowned for his role as Jay Brown in the BBC soap opera ‘EastEnders‘, has joined the cast of ‘Strictly Come Dancing‘. This news was confirmed in August and has since generated a mix of excitement and controversy amongst the show’s audience. Some of the programme’s purists express concerns over contest participants having prior dance experience.

“I had a ball doing the Strictly Christmas special last year, so when I was asked to join for this series it was the easiest yes!” Borthwick announced. He plans to bring his newfound enthusiasm for ballroom dancing to the popular dance competition.

Borthwick, who is 30 years old, attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School, an institution known for its notable alumni, including Daniel Kaluuya and Dua Lipa. Borthwick’s experience on the dance floor was highlighted when he and his professional partner Nancy Xu performed the Quickstep and achieved a perfect score from the judges, managing to secure 40 points.

The addition of Borthwick to the show has reignited discussions surrounding the fairness of having contestants with previous dance training. A similar issue arose with Layton Williams, a musical theatre actor, whose participation led to allegations of him having an unfair advantage.

“I’ve taken it on the chin; I get what everyone’s saying. But if you could be a fly on the wall in this rehearsal room, it’s not easy for me,” Williams expressed regarding the criticism he faced.

Borthwick first appeared in ‘EastEnders’ in 2006 and has since received a British Soap Award for Best Dramatic Performance from a Young Actor in 2008. Outside of acting, he notably participated in the London Marathon in 2019 to raise awareness for dementia, in honor of fellow EastEnders star Barbara Windsor.

His inclusion in ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ has caused a stir among fans, reminiscent of previous controversies where celebrities with dance backgrounds were seen as having an advantage over their competitors.