BBC Strictly’s Michelle Tsiakkas shares Jamie Borthwick update amid EastEnders suspension for disability slur: ‘We’ve kept in touch’
Professional dancer Michelle Tsiakkas has revealed she and former Strictly partner Jamie Borthwick have stayed in close contact following their stint on the long-running BBC dance competition.
The pair’s time on the dancefloor was packed full of show-stopping routines that saw them make it all the way to Week 10, receiving several perfect scores from the judges along the way.
However, post-Strictly life for Borthwick has been marred in controversy after it was revealed the EastEnders star had been suspended by the BBC for using a slur against people with disabilities on the set of Strictly.
The incident is said to have occurred during Blackpool Week last year, with the BBC saying his language was “entirely unacceptable and in no way reflects the values or standards we hold and expect”.
Borthwick has since apologised for “any offence and upset” caused by the remark following The Sun on Sunday’s report.
Following his suspension in June, Borthwick has taken a step back from the spotlight, only returning to social media earlier this week.
But speaking to GB News at this year’s National Reality TV Awards, Strictly star Tsiakkas detailed how the pair haven’t let the saga affect the friendship that blossomed during their time on the programme.
“Yeah, we’ve kept in touch, our relationship was really genuine, so we truly got on like brother and sister and we still have that bond,” Tsiakkas said.
Delving further into their friendship, she went on: “Actually, he messaged me the other day, just yesterday, actually saying that he felt left out (because) he’s not in the crew anymore, and he wanted me to send him videos of our rehearsals for him to look at.
“It’s really nice to be nominated for the performance award as well because it gives me some some reassurance personally that I’m doing something right. And also just for Jamie and I together. It’s a really nice thing.”
Tsiakkas and the rest of her Strictly Come Dancing pros are currently preparing for the new series of the competition to arrive later this year.
Explaining how preparations are already underway, she told the People’s Channel: “We are three days into training and as always, full on from the get-go.
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“We have so many group numbers to learn, so every day we’re learning a different number. But as always, they’re so different every year.
“(It’s) amazing that the level just keeps going up which is incredible. It’s what makes the show as amazing as it is.”
Tsiakkas is now a fully fledged part of the Strictly furniture, with 2025 marking her fourth year on the show.
However, mystery still surrounds whether or not she’ll receive a celebrity partner in the upcoming series. “We don’t even know if we’re getting a partner this year yet. We don’t know who the celebrities are, so we’re just as excited and anxious to find out who the celebs are just as everyone else is,” she said.
It’s not just in the celeb line-up that there’s been change either following the BBC’s announcement that two new dancers were joining the pros.
Sharing her verdict on Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon’s arrivals, Tsiakkas said: “They’re great to work with, great energy, very exciting!
“It’s always nice to get some fresh energy in the room, and I’m looking forward to seeing what they do with their partners as well, if they get partners and you know how that goes.
“It’s always really exciting to have new people in the room. Fingers crossed!”