BBC EastEnders Jay star Jamie Borthwick among celebs taking part in Strictly Christmas special
EastEnders' star Jamie Borthwick, who plays Jay Brown on the soap, is set to join the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2023 alongside broadcaster Dan Snow and BBC Breakfast host Sally Nugent.
The trio are the first celebs announced for the festive episode airing on Christmas Day, where they'll compete to be crowned the Christmas champion.
The exciting news was shared on Wednesday's episode of the Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two, with more contestants to be revealed on Thursday November 23.
Jamie was revealed as the third celebrity on It Takes Two, will be dancing with Nancy Xu.
The 29 year old actor, known for his role as Jay Brown in the BBC soap opera for over 17 years, has won several awards for his performance.
He expressed his excitement about joining this year's line-up, aiming to "spread Christmas cheer" and have a "good laugh" with his dance partner.
"From Walford to a Waltz, I can't wait to learn a new skill and put my dancing to the test," he added.
Jamie's character, Jay, was married to Lola Pearce on EastEnders, and he supported her through her cancer battle, which she ultimately lost.
Lola was played by Danielle Harold, who is currently starring on ITV's I'm A Celebrity.
History buff Dan Snow, known for his programmes like Battlefield Britain and his online history channel History Hit, will partner with professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova for the special.
The 44 year old confessed he's "absolutely terrified" about hitting the dance floor but sees this as a "now or never" chance to learn how to dance.
Sally Nugent, a familiar face on BBC Breakfast for the past 20 years, will trade her usual spot on the famous red sofa for the dancefloor, partnering with Italian dancer Graziano Di Prima.
She expressed both excitement and fear about participating in this year's Strictly Christmas Special, saying: "I'm hoping the judges will be kind and filled with Christmas spirit.
"And I hope everyone watching at home will enjoy a little bit of Strictly magic on Christmas night."
The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special will be shown on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day, December 25.
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