BBC facing questions about Jamie Borthwick's EastEnders future in aftermath of John Torode's sacking from MasterChef
The actor - who plays Jay Brown in the BBC soap - was suspended by bosses after The Sun revealed he had used a derogatory slur about disabled people while on Strictly Come Dancing last year.
2
But now with MasterChef host John being sacked after an investigation found he had used racist language while repeating lines from Kanye West's Golddigger - something he denies - questions are being raised about Jamie's future on the BBC soap and the difference in treatment.
A source said: "The difference in treatment between John and Jamie - for very similar incidents - has left questions to be answered.
'The BBC have tied themselves into knots with this - for them both stars appear to have used unacceptable and offensive language but only one has been sacked while another has kept his lucrative salary and got away with just a suspension.
'There doesn't appear to be any rhyme nor reason with how the BBC chooses to implement its own rules and people are questioning why.
'Disabled colleagues have been left wondering why incidents of ableist slurs seemingly aren't being taken as seriously as racist language and there are no clear answers coming from bosses.'
Last night a spokeswoman for the BBC said: 'Whilst we do not comment on any individual matter, each case is always considered on its own facts.
'We are very clear on our expectations that inappropriate behaviour and language will not be tolerated.'
Last month Jamie launched a last ditch bid to save his job.
The EastEnders star, who joined the soap in 2006, said in a public apology: 'I am deeply sorry for any offence and upset my words and actions have caused.
'It is no excuse, but I did not fully understand the derogatory term I used and its meaning.
EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick sensationally SUSPENDED by BBC for using sick disabled slur on Strictly set
'That is on me completely. Now I am aware, I am deeply embarrassed to have used the term and directed it in the way I did. It was wrong.
'When I made the video, I was excited and caught up in the moment. Again, that is no excuse. But my regrettable actions are not a true reflection of my views, or who I am.
'I enjoyed every minute of my time in the Blackpool Tower Ballroom and the town itself.
"The people of Blackpool have always been amazing with the Strictly crew, dancers and cast members. I know they will be again for this year's show and those in years to come. I am truly sorry.'
The BBC said his language was 'entirely unacceptable and in no way reflects the values or standards we hold and expect'.
Disability charity Scope told The Sun Borthwick should reflect on what he said and educate himself.
"We hope he takes the opportunity to get to know the reality of disabled people's lives,' said the organisation's media manager Warren Kirwan.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
22 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Gabby Logan recalls crushing low point after brutal Strictly Come Dancing exit
Gabby Logan has cast her mind back to her experiences on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing - and admits she was left fearing the nation hated her as she failed to secure votes Gabby Logan has candidly reflected on a time she felt she was deeply unpopular. The 52-year-old radio and television presenter is best known for hosting sports programs for the BBC, ITV and Channel 5. In August this year, she will land arguably her biggest job to date - as a new host of Match of the Day following the exit of controversial footballer Gary Lineker. But it is not just giving her two pence about on-pitch action that has drawn attention to Gabs. She has also enjoyed a foray into the world of competitive reality shows - popping up to present shows like the diving competition Splash! and celebrity sheep herding show Flockstars. Back in 2007, however, Gabby stepped out from behind her presenting lectern to be a contestants on hit show Strictly Come Dancing. The star was partnered with professional dancer James Jordan and, being season five of the long-running show, this was the time when Tess Daly and the late Sir Bruce Forsyth were hosts of the show. The judging panel consisted of Arlene Phillips, Craig Revel Horwood, Bruno Tonioli and the late Len Goodman. While Gabby made it through three rounds of the show before she was voted off, she is convinced that she became a hate figure during her time on the ballroom floor. She featured on the series at the same time as her husband, Kenny Logan - was also competing with Gabby's dance partner James' wife Ola Jordan. Wales Online quotes Gabby saying: "I had an amazing experience on Strictly, I was only on it for a few weeks, but I had an amazing experience — but also, a kind of life-changing experience in many ways." She elaborated: "[It] sounds a bit dramatic, and you hear people going 'Strictly changed my life', but this wasn't in a good way." Giving more clarity, she went on: "When you get voted out of Strictly, it's so shocking, because you go in every week starting to work on your following week's dance, and you don't expect to go home." And she revealed she was left being "very much aware that people didn't like" her during her time on the show. She also told Jessica Ennis on the Gold Minds podcast: "It was the fact that obviously people didn't vote for me — and it sounds a bit pathetic — but you realise when it's a reality show that it's about whether people like you. And I was very much aware that people didn't like me. "I was kind of like, they didn't like me enough to vote for me... It was a very sobering kind of experience because in the days afterwards, not only was I dreadfully missing the dancing, but also realising I kind of felt like, 'Oh, what was it about me that people didn't relate to?'" While Gabby and James crashed out in week four, her rugby star husband managed to make it through five more weeks before he too was voted off. Their season was awash with big name star - with Sir Rod Stewart's wife, Penny Lancaster, acting legend Stephanie Beacham, and model bombshell Kelly Brook were among those taking to the dance floor. The finalists that season included EastEnders star Matt Di Angelo and TV presenter Gethin Jones. While Mis-Teeq singer Alesha Dixon proved to be the victor of the show - and later became a judge on the series before being poached to judge on Britain's Got Talent.
Telegraph
22 minutes ago
- Telegraph
‘America's favourite dancer' joins Strictly line-up
'America's favourite dancer' will join Strictly Come Dancing. Alexis Warr, who was given the accolade in 2022 for winning the television show So You Think You Can Dance, will seek to make a similar impression on British audiences when the new series airs this autumn. She will be joined by another newcomer, Julian Caillon, the Australian ballroom dancer and physiologist. The announcement comes amid changes to the Strictly line-up following a series of scandals on the show. Giovanni Pernice was left out of the 2024 line-up following an accusation by Amanda Abbington, the actress and former dance partner, of 'inappropriate, mean, nasty and bullying' behaviour in training. He was cleared of any physical wrongdoing following a BBC investigation, but a complaint was upheld for his use of 'belittling' language. Fellow Italian Graziano di Prima was initially confirmed for the 2024 series, but was let go by the BBC after reports of misconduct with his partner Zara McDermott. In an Instagram post at the time, he wrote: 'I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly. My intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime. Respecting the BBC HR process, I understand it's best for the show that I step away.' Warr said: 'I've admired Strictly for years, so joining this incredible family is such an honour. I can't wait to step into the ballroom, pour my heart into every moment, and share my love of dance with the UK.' Caillon, who shares videos on social media of his work training with the elderly, added: 'I've watched it for years, especially cheering on all the amazing dancers I know and work with who've been part of it. I can't wait to get stuck in, have some fun, and be part of something special.' The new pair will join fellow professionals Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Aljaž Škorjanec, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas and Vito Coppola.
The Sun
22 minutes ago
- The Sun
Simon Cowell wanted to join Channel 4 reality show but backed out over health warning, says pal
DON'T let the high-waisted jeans, tinted specs or luxury lifestyle fool you – Simon Cowell reckons he's a real tough guy at heart. In fact, the music mogul even considered signing up for Channel 4's extreme challenge show, SAS: Who Dares Wins, according to his pal Lucy Spraggan. 7 7 Singer Lucy, who has grown close to Simon since starring on The X Factor in 2012, warned him off the idea — then joined the line-up herself. She said: 'He thought it was a great idea, me doing the show. 'He knows I love being outdoors. We do a lot of shooting air rifles and stuff together, so he knows this is my thing, testing my mental resilience. 'It was just funny because he had said, 'Oh, maybe I'll try and have a go at it'. 'I was like, ' Simon, you would literally die!'. It was funny because it really contextualised how hard it was that I just straight away said to him, 'You would have no chance'. 'But Lauren [Silverman, Cowell's wife], I said to her at dinner the other day, 'You should have a go'. She could do it, it would be funny.' Simon, right, and Lucy have become such good pals, he walked her down the aisle at her wedding to Emilia Smith last summer. The new series of SAS: Who Dares Wins, which begins next Sunday at 9pm, sees Simon dial in to give Lucy a pep talk — but it doesn't end well. She said: 'The DS [directing staff] hung up on him and he was like, 'I've never been so angry'.' Lucy's not the only celebrity recruit with reality TV experience. But ex-military man and winner of The Traitors, Harry Clark, seems to have his shows mixed up, as he is rumbled cheating in physical tasks. Lead instructor Billy Billingham rages: 'His integrity and honesty stinks, he's playing us.' Harry said: 'That's when I was the most scared. I was like, 'I've let the Army down. I've definitely let every-one at home down, and I've let myself down'. 'But I was in so much pain with my body and my feet. I remember my big toe, it was infected.' Apart from the shame, Harry wasn't phased being bawled at by instructors. He said: 'That didn't really bother me. I was in the Army since I was 16, so it wasn't really any different.' Perhaps Simon thought the same after all those X Factor bootcamps. 7 LOUIE IN PORNO FANTASY LOUIE SPENCE lasted less than 24 hours on the course – but it wasn't the hard graft that put him off. The former dancer reveals he couldn't take the former special forces soldiers seriously because he felt like he was in a gay porn movie. Louie, who battled to keep a straight face, said: 'I'm sorry, I couldn't get it out of my mind – as soon as I had to put this hood on and could see these black boots walking along, before they pull that hood off and say: 'What's your name?' 'I was thinking, God, this is like a gay fantasy porno. It's like you're in the Army now, you've been a naughty boy. 'I couldn't get it out of my mind, just expecting the DS to strip. I thought, 'This isn't good'.' ALL GO, CHLOE SHE'S taken on her fair share of reality shows, but nothing could have prepared Chloe Burrows for her SAS stint. The former Love Island bombshell thought she'd get a break from the gruelling regime during filming so was stunned to discover it's so full-on, they have medics on stand-by. Chloe said: 'We had the meeting before and it was like, 'Yeah, there's going to be an ambulance crew within a kilometre, they've dealt with saving lives'. And I was thinking, 'Oh, my God . . . '. I did go in a bit naive. 'It was a complete culture shock. I've worked on other shows before . . . you do get a bit of respite. 'Even when I've done Scared Of The Dark, and Inside, where you are filmed 24/7, you do get a little bit of relaxing time – you know, a bit of a moment to yourself. 'But there was no break. Like, honestly, you were on, on, on all day. It was a lot, to be honest.' WHAT A GAS, MIC AFTER taking on the dreaded gas chamber challenge, Michaella McCollum reckons she would be up for more of the same. The single mum who got jailed in Peru for smuggling cocaine, was meant to rescue a hostage trapped inside, and saved herself instead. But she said: 'You know what, I would probably do that one again even though I messed it up. 'I got the hostage to the window and then I jumped out the window. [DS] Foxy was like, 'What the f*** are you doing? Your job is to save the hostage and then yourself.' 'The gas was awful. You cannot breathe. Your eyes are exploding. "There's just snot coming from your nose, your eyes, everything. You feel like you're dying. It's horrific. 'But if we had to do that challenge again, I'd have done it and saved the hostage.' BOXER Conor Benn and ex-footballer Troy Deeney were left battered and bruised – to the horror of their wives. The pair, above, had to fight each other during the course and were roughed up from other challenges, too. 7 For one test, Conor had to jump backward off a viaduct in the Welsh hills but his harness was so tight he was left squirming. 'I lost my left testicle,' he joked. 'I'm still looking for it, which is not very good seeing as my missus wants more kids. ' I don't know how much luck we'll have with that now. 'That was more painful than being punched in the head for a living.' Meanwhile Troy sported his injuries as he wed partner Alisha after returning from filming. He said: 'She wasn't too happy I turned up with a black eye.' HARDMAN Chief Instructor Billy Billingham reckons the show will be a wake-up for the celebrities. He said: 'With the world being as unstable as it is, we may all be called to the battlefield, to defend. "These celebrities are going to get an understanding of what that feels like.' Tasha Ghouri and Adam Collard, S Club 7's Hannah Spearritt, glamour girl Rebecca Loos, drag queen Bimini and musician Lady Leshurr.
