Strictly star performing extremely difficult dance that already saw them ‘win’

Strictly Come Dancing star Jamie Borthwick has revealed he’s performing a dance this weekend that he’s already done before, and that even helped him win the glitterball trophy.

The EastEnders actor, 30, has returned to the BBC One ballroom for a second time, after impressing the judges in last year’s Christmas special.

Jamie was paired with Nancy Xu and performed a quickstep, which he’s now doing all over again.

For the third week in this year’s competition, Jamie is dancing a quickstep to Rocketman’s I’m Still Standing, with his partner Michelle Tsiakkas.

Talking about this week’s dance on Good Morning Britain, the soap star said there’s ‘extra pressure’ on him this week, performing a dance he won the Christmas special with.

‘We’ve got more technique in there, more difficult elements,’ Michelle said, adding that ‘the judges are being quite hard on him’.

Jamie’s inclusion in this year’s line-up, which also sees the likes of Pete Wicks, Love Island’s Tasha Ghouri and DIY SOS star Nick Knowles, divided some fans, so soon after he won the Christmas special.

He also revealed he didn’t think he’d return to the ballroom just yet, telling hosts Kate Garraway and Ed Balls that he’d actually spoken to Strictly bosses in 2018 for the first time, and did an audition-style dance with Amy Dowden.

‘We didn’t do it that year, and then the Christmas show came around, and I thought, “it’s not as bad, not as big as the main show, we’ll have a go.”

‘Went and done the Christmas show, absolutely loved it, loved being in the atmosphere of Strictly, loved the crew, loved the other pros, absolutely enjoyed every second, and I was kind of hoping they’d ask me to do the main show.

‘I didn’t think it would be this year, I have to say but when they did ask, it was a no brainer, because I love being in the atmosphere, being at Elstree with everyone, the pros and fantastic crew who work on the show.

‘I can’t explain the feeling!’

This comes after Jamie was jokingly labelled a ‘cheat’ by fellow contestant Wynne Evans.

The rest of the line-up gasped while Claudia Winkleman covered her mouth in shock, comedian Chris McCausland quipping: ‘This man’s a hero!’

But brushing off the brutal dig, Jamie said he wanted to sign up for the full series because he ‘had such a fantastic experience’ and ‘it was a bit of a no-brainer’.

Pete also took a cheeky swipe, saying he’s throwing himself into the show and adding: ‘I’m never gonna be here again, am I? Unless I’m Jamie.’

Their co-stars applauded the gag while Claudia laughed, ‘That is brilliant!’, before Pete blew a kiss to Jamie to show it’s all love.

Jamie’s not the only star to have won the glitterball trophy before, as JLS singer JB Gill, who is currently partnered with Amy, won the Christmas special in 2012.