Strictly Come Dancing star Jamie Borthwick has made it to week 10 of the competition after continuing to impress judges and viewers.
The EastEnders star, 30, also took part in last year’s Strictly Christmas Special, which saw him perform a one-off dance for the spin-off show which he ended up winning.
Ahead of his week 10 Foxtrot, Borthwick and dance partner Michelle Tsiakkas opened up about some of their behind-the-scenes Strictly secrets.
When asked if he had any rituals for coping with pre-performance nerves, Borthwick made an admission about feeling unable to cope during the Christmas edition.
“Sadly, no. I wish I did have a few rituals to help me through, but I just ride it out until we’re about to go out on the stage.
“I remember this from the Christmas show, that point before when they were reading my name.
Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas performed a comical Jive in the latest episode
BBC
“I was behind the Queen Vic doors, and I was honestly looking for my Mum.”
Speaking to the BBC, he went on to share: “I was thinking, ‘I can’t do this.’
“I was panicking and all of a sudden the music started, and I was in it, and then it went away.
“So I know that the nerves do go when you start dancing, so I’m just going to tell myself that.
Jamie Borthwick opened up on a moment he thought ‘I can’t do this’
BBC
“When you actually start, the nerves will go, and it’ll be great when you finish – it’ll pass.”
When asked if dancing has brought out another side of him, the actor replied: “Not really, it’s just exaggerated the current side of me of being mischievous and annoying and loud!”
Borthwick is Tsiakkas’ first Strictly partner, which he described as “amazing”.
“It is an amazing experience, I feel there is a bit of pressure on me because I am her first partner so I want to make sure that her experience is just as good as mine so I hope that I’m fulfilling that,” he shared.
Last week, the two performed a lively jive, achieving a score of 33.
The score landed them in sixth place of eight on the leaderboard, with a mixed bag of comments from the judges.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas are set to perform a Foxtrot on Saturday’s show
BBC
Borthwick’s mum was in the live audience last weekend, and fans ended up being distracted when she was seemingly unhappy about the judges’ criticisms.
Motsi Mabuse remarked: “You push all the way, you gave it absolutely everything.
“Your standing leg – just a little bit, just a tiny bit – it didn’t give you that kind of vibration that you need so that you can absorb the music.
“So you have a sort absorbsation on your ankle that we didn’t have,” she added but ended on a high note.
The judge concluded: “But besides that, I thought that was really just a fantastic way to end the show tonight.”
At this, Borthwick’s mum appeared to roll her eyes.