Jamie Borthwick was reported to have used an ableist slur referring to disabled people while filming on the Strictly Come Dancing set in Blackpool, and later apologised, saying there was “no excuse” and that he did not fully understand how derogatory the term was at the time. The specific word has been widely reported and discussed online as an outdated slur historically used in connection with people with Down syndrome, and disability charity Scope publicly condemned the language as “never acceptable” and urged him to reflect and learn about the realities of disabled people’s lives.

What he reportedly said

Public reports state that Borthwick used a derogatory term that has historically been used as a slur for people with learning disabilities, including those with Down syndrome, while talking about people in Blackpool during Strictly filming. The term is described in forum discussions and media coverage as an ableist slur, with commenters noting its origins in outdated medical and racial language and its longstanding use as an insult meaning “stupid” or “idiot.”

Public reaction and criticism

  • Major UK outlets described his language as “entirely unacceptable” and not in line with broadcaster standards, leading first to a suspension and later to him being axed from EastEnders after nearly two decades on the show.
  • Disability equality organisation Scope said attitudes and language like this “are never acceptable” and highlighted how negative language contributes to disabled people being held back in areas such as work and everyday life.

His apology and response

Borthwick issued an apology acknowledging that his comment was wrong, stressing that there was “no excuse” and that his excitement in the moment did not justify what he said. He also said the language did not reflect his true views, emphasised that he did not fully understand how derogatory the term was, and expressed regret to disabled people and to the community he had referred to.

Ongoing discussion and context

  • Commenters on forums and social media have been debating whether intent, ignorance of a term’s history, or the fact it was once a clinical term should affect how harshly such incidents are judged.
  • Many disabled advocates argue that, regardless of intent, the impact of such words on disabled people is what matters, and that high‑profile incidents like this show why education around respectful language is still urgently needed.

Quick TL;DR

Borthwick used an ableist slur linked historically to people with Down syndrome while filming in Blackpool, prompting suspension and later removal from EastEnders. He apologised, saying there was no excuse and that he had not fully understood how offensive the word is, while disability groups stressed that such language is harmful and must not be normalised.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.