Strictly 2024 star branded ‘cheat’ by rival as signing divides viewers

In a jarring moment, 1 Strictly Come Dancing prima was declared a ‘cheat’ by a chap personage contestant arsenic the 2024 series got disconnected to a dazzling start.

EastEnders histrion Jamie Borthwick’s casting has divided fans of the BBC creation amusement fixed that helium lifted the glitterball trophy past December successful the Christmas special.

Paired with Nancy Xu astatine the time, the soap favourite, 30, impressed the judges with his quickstepping abilities, truthful overmuch truthful that he’s decided to springiness it different go.

Wynne Evans had thing to accidental astir this, however.

As Tess Daly introduced Jamie, she began: ‘You had a sensation of Strictly astatine Christmas…’

Before she could decorativeness her question, though, Go Compare opera vocalist Wynne coughed: ‘Cheat!’

The remainder of the line-up gasped portion Claudia Winkleman covered her rima successful shock, comedian Chris McCausland quipping: ‘This man’s a hero!’

Brushing disconnected the brutal dig, Jamie said helium wanted to motion up for the afloat bid due to the fact that helium ‘had specified a fantastic experience’ and ‘it was a spot of a no-brainer’.

But the jokes didn’t halt there, arsenic Towie’s Pete Wicks besides decided to spell for the jugular.

Co-host Claudia asked the famously deadpan, sarcastic TV personality: ‘Are you throwing yourself into this?’

Podcaster Pete, 35, replied: ‘I’m successful for a penny, successful for a lb Pete.

‘I’m ne'er gonna beryllium present again, americium I? Unless I’m Jamie.’

Pete’s co-stars applauded the gag portion Claudia laughed, ‘That is brilliant!’, earlier Pete blew a buss to Jamie to amusement it’s each love.

The celebs aren’t the lone ones cracking jokes, arsenic immoderate viewers were alternatively curt erstwhile expressing their feelings astir Jamie’s signing.

Taking to X, idiosyncratic fansvfavourites really said Jamie should beryllium ‘kicked off’ for his past experience.

Jamie has been paired with Michelle Tsiakkas this series, portion his erstwhile pro Nancy dances with X Factor victor Shayne Ward.

Michelle, 29, joined the Strictly formed a fewer years back, but this is her archetypal clip with a personage partner, which she’s described arsenic ‘a imagination travel true’.

Speaking up of the launch, Jamie – who has played Jay Brown since 2006 – said helium hopes his years of play volition service him good successful the competition.

‘I’m utilized to play truthful I’m truly looking guardant to it, it’s going to beryllium a truly bully adventure,’ helium said.

He besides said the creation he’s astir excited to bash is the Argentine Tango due to the fact that it’s ‘dramatic’.

Elsewhere successful this year’s Strictly motorboat show, Amy Dowden returned to the dancefloor aft a twelvemonth retired for bosom crab treatment. She’s paired with JLS popular prima JB Gill.

Aljaž Škorjanec is besides backmost aft a little Strictly hiatus, with his past quality being successful 2021, erstwhile helium danced with Sara Davies.

He’s backmost to marque up the numbers pursuing the axe of Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, and is paired with Love Islander Tasha Ghouri.

With Strictly play good and genuinely underway erstwhile again, the celebs and their professionals are present hard astatine enactment successful the grooming room, moving agelong days to cleanable their routines, which they’ll execute for the judges and millions of viewers astatine location adjacent week.

No pressure…

Strictly Come Dancing airs each Saturday and Sunday connected BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a personage story, video oregon pictures get successful interaction with the Metro.co.uk amusement squad by emailing america [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 oregon by visiting our Submit Stuff leafage – we’d emotion to perceive from you.

MORE : Strictly’s Craig Revel Horwood likened to TV icon aft representation transformation

MORE : Anton Du Beke wants Giovanni Pernice ‘back connected Strictly’ arsenic BBC probe results loom