Jamie Borthwick, the EastEnders star known for his role as Jay Brown, could be facing difficulties on Strictly Come Dancing, according to a body language expert.
The 30-year-old actor is currently competing on the show with professional dancer Michelle Tsiakkas, and they have been impressing both viewers and judges with their performances.
Their recent routine to Elton John’s hit I’m Still Standing earned them an impressive score of 30, with the judges full of praise.
However, a body language expert has predicted that Jamie and Michelle might be the next pair to face elimination due to technical issues.
“I believe Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas will be in trouble this week. Not because there’s much wrong with their rapport, but because of a technical standpoint,” Darren Stanton said on behalf of Betfair Slingo.
“As the weeks go on, the judges will be less and less forgiving on small technical faults. However, from a rapport point of view I’m not seeing what it takes to get through to the latter point of the competition, they’re not quite as well-connected as some of the other couples higher up the leaderboard.”
Despite this, judge Anton Du Beke seems to disagree with Darren’s claims.
After Jamie and Michelle’s performance during the third live show, he expressed confidence that the pair could make it all the way to the final, reports the Express.
“You know you really are a super super dancer. I think you could be one of the favourites to lift the trophy to be quite honest with you. I think you are an exceptional talent,” Anton praised soap star Jamie.
However, it’s not only Jamie who is predicted to face challenges, as Darren also suggested that TV personality Nick Knowles might ‘really struggle’ as he progresses in the competition, especially due to his injuries.
“Nick Knowles is a really outgoing guy, but I think he’s going to really struggle moving forward. He’s already been blighted by injury. His rapport with Luba and they seem to get on well, with a mutual respect, but they don’t have a particularly strong connection on the dance floor, which could see them in danger this weekend,” Darren commented.
Nick had to withdraw from the third live show because of an injury he sustained during training. He and Luba were given a ‘bye’ by BBC bosses, meaning they can compete in the fourth live show, provided Nick has fully recovered.
Love Island’s Tasha Ghouri and EastEnders’ Jamie Borthwick have both caught the attention of bookies in the early odds on who will win Strictly Come Dancing.
Both have proved to be contentious choices for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing. Tasha, a trained professional dancer, has faced questions on Instagram about whether her previous experience gives her an ‘unfair advantage’.
Strictly Come Dancing returns this Saturday at 6.20pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.