EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick has been suspended from the soap after it emerged he once used an ableist slur while filming Strictly Come Dancing last year. Over the weekend, The Sun On Sunday reported that Jamie – who has played Jay Brown in the BBC series for almost 20 years – had used an “unacceptable” term while filming in Blackpool back in November.

The BBC has suspended one of its most familiar soap stars after he was heard using a slur against people with disabilities on a TV set, using the phrase to describe the people of Blackpool where he was filming.

BBC bosses are reportedly on a mission to make sure the line-up for the hit dance show is as clean cut as possible.