Jamie Borthwick has broken his silence on the Strictly Come Dancing curse after her was rumoured to be romantically involved with his partner Michelle Tsiakkas.
For years, the BBC show has sparked many an off-screen romance between celebrities and their professional partners, with some even leaving their spouses to pursue these relationships – prompting the name the ‘Strictly curse‘.
The EastEnders star, 30, who his single, laughed off the hearsay, admitting the pair are ‘more like siblings.’
Speaking to The Sun, Jamie said: ‘Honestly, it’s hilarious that people think we’re getting jiggy!’
‘I really don’t know where that comes from, but I think everyone kind of just pre-empts the Strictly curse.’
Jamie Borthwick has broken his silence on the Strictly Come Dancing curse after he was rumoured to be romantically involved with his partner Michelle Tsiakkas
For years, the BBC show has sparked many an off-screen romance between celebrities and their professional partners, with some even leaving their spouses to pursue these relationships
The actor continued: ‘You definitely ain’t got no worries about Michelle – she’s like a sister, mum and auntie all rolled into one. I’m being mothered! We’ve got sibling chemistry.’
Shortly before appearing on the show, Jamie sparked romance rumours with his EastEnders co-star Jazzy Phoenix.
Meanwhile, Michelle is in a relationship with her boyfriend Simone Arena, who is a Dancing With The Stars champion.
Earlier this week, Jamie admitted he is feeling ‘extra pressure’ ahead of this weeks Strictly Come Dancing while appearing on Thursday’s episode of Good Morning Britain.
The EastEnders star revealed he and professional partner Michelle are to take on the Quickstep to Elton John‘s I’m Still Standing.
However, Jamie said he has to ‘level up’ his routine after winning last years Christmas Special with the dance and scoring a perfect 40 from the judges.
The actor, who portrays Jay Brown/Mitchell in the BBC soap, said: ‘There’s extra pressure this week and we need to level up’.
Michelle added: ‘We’ve put more difficult technical elements in this week’.
The EastEnders star, 30, who his single, laughed off the hearsay, admitting the pair are ‘more like siblings
While speaking to hosts Kate Garraway and Ed Balls, the soap star added that the Christmas show is ‘completely different’ to the live shows every week.
Jamie continued: ‘It is nothing like the Christmas show, which I thought was bad I was so nervous, but the live show is completely different because it is a new dance every week, the nervous get worse each week.’
The BBC star also revealed to viewers how he couldn’t refuse the invite to appear back on Strictly despite some of his co-stars calling him a cheat.
He continued: ‘I went and spoke to Strictly in 2018. You go and have a dance thing, I was paired with Amy Dowden then, and we didn’t do it that year and then the Christmas show came around and I absolutely loved it.
‘I loved the atmosphere of being in Strictly. And I was kind of hoping they’d ask me to do the main show.
‘I didn’t think it would be this year but it was a no-brainer when they asked. I love the pros, the crew and the Strictly feeling.’
Earlier this week, Jamie admitted he is feeling ‘extra pressure’ ahead of this weeks Strictly Come Dancing while appearing on Thursday’s episode of Good Morning Britain
Jamie, who scored an impressive 50 last week for his Rumba, also revealed his attitude towards dancing has changed after previously attending dance classes at the Sylvia Young Theatre School.
He explained: ‘I went to Sylvia Young, and we did our dance classes there but I didn’t concentrate that much in them I wasn’t interested in dancing. But with the rumba I think by sheer luck I just loved it.
‘I was really happy that Shirley was happy because she’s the rumba queen. I wouldn’t say it was effortless but I did really try.’
Last year, Jamie was crowned the winner of the Strictly Come Dancing 2023 Christmas special alongside old partner Nancy Xu.