Jamie Borthwick Walks Away From EastEnders Forever — Jay Brown Exit Is Final

Well, that is that. After nearly 20 years in Walford, Jamie Borthwick is not coming back to EastEnders. If you were hoping for a temporary break and a surprise return, the BBC has shut that door.

A BBC Studios spokesperson confirmed the news to Radio Times and kept it very tight-lipped about why:

"We can confirm that Jamie Borthwick will not be returning to EastEnders. We do not comment on individual matters."

Borthwick has played Jay Brown since 2006, so this is a big one for long-time viewers. And yes, it connects to the controversy that flared up earlier this summer.

How we got here

• June: Borthwick was suspended after a video surfaced from his time on Strictly Come Dancing. It was filmed at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom and caught him using an ableist slur. In the clip, he says: "Blackpool by the way. Absolute m********s."
• The BBC told The Sun the language was unacceptable, did not reflect the corporation's standards, and that they have processes in place to deal with incidents like this.
• Borthwick apologized, saying he was deeply sorry for the offense caused. He said there was no excuse, admitted he had not fully understood the term he used at the time, and called it wrong and embarrassing now that he does.

What happens to Jay?

Here is the slightly inside-baseball twist: it is understood that Borthwick's final on-screen scenes as Jay Brown have already aired. So if you were waiting for a big exit episode, you may have already seen it without knowing it was the end. The show has not revealed how it will explain the character's departure on screen, and the BBC is not expanding on any of it beyond that statement. Radio Times has reached out to Borthwick's representatives for comment.

EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One, with episodes dropping from 6am on BBC iPlayer.