Jamie Borthwick has returned to ‘EastEnders’.
The 22-year-old actor’s alter ego Jay Brown hasn’t been seen in Walford since he left last month to supposedly visit his grandfather up North, but viewers were in for a shock in Thursday (13.10.16) night’s episode when Pam Coker (Lin Blakley) found the troubled young man sleeping rough as she dropped her dead grandson Paul Coker’s (Jonny Labey) old clothes off at a homeless shelter following his brutal murder.
The flower stall holder – who used to be a social worker – managed to persuade the drug addict to return to Albert Square because his best friend Ben Mitchell (Harry Reid) is really struggling after the death of his boyfriend Paul and needs him.
Jamie told the RadioTimes.com: "Did I know that when Harry joined the show that I would have a brother and a best friend for life? No I didn’t. But that’s what he’s become.
"I love him to death and I’d do anything for him. I’m looking forward to a really strong future for the two of us."
Jay’s life began to spiral out of control earlier this year when he began dating Linzi Bragg (Amy-Leigh Hickman) because it later turned out that she was actually a school girl and, by her sending him saucy pictures, he’d committed a child sex crime.
The mechanic – who was unaware of the youngster’s age when he was dating her – was found guilty of the crime and was placed on the sex offenders’ register for three years.
The verdict led to Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), who had taken him under his wing when his father Jase Dyer (Stephen Lord) was beaten to death in 2008, chucking him out.
However, Jamie is convinced his alter ego may be able to worm his way back into the alcoholic’s home before Christmas.
He explained: "I’m hoping it’ll get back to normal as quickly as possible. I think he’ll get back in there a little bit."
And, although the festive season is usually a time for tears, tantrums and deaths in Walford, Jamie has revealed the Mitchells are in for a "quiet" Christmas this year.
He said: "It’s not how it usually is this Christmas. Expect a bit of shock. It’s a mixture of happy and low key."
Jamie Borthwick returns to EastEnders
