EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick will reportedly return to work on the BBC soap next month, much to the dismay of disability campaigners.
The actor, 31, who has played Jay Brown for 19 years, was suspended by the broadcaster in June after being caught backstage at Strictly using a slur aimed at disabled people.
A video obtained by The Sun on Sunday showed Jamie using the term ‘m********s’ to describe residents of Blackpool where the show was being filmed at the time.
The Sun now reports that the actor will return to work after a three month suspension, despite calls for him to undergo ‘awareness training’.
Shani Dhanda from disability charity Scope told the publication: ‘What shocked me most about this story is the character Jamie plays in the show often appears alongside another character called Janet who has Down syndrome.
‘His character was even her stepdad at one point. He didn’t say the word directly to a disabled person, but even still language is so important’.
EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick, 31, will reportedly return to work on the BBC soap next month, much to the dismay of disability campaigners (pictured on EastEnders)
The actor, who has played Jay Brown for 19 years, was suspended by the broadcaster in June after being caught backstage at Strictly using a slur aimed at disabled people
While leader of Blackpool Council’s Conservative party called on the actor to return to the city and ‘apologise in person’ for the hurt his words had caused.
He said: ‘The BBC lifting his suspension without any visible act of contrition beyond a statement sends a worrying message celebrities can offend, apologise, and carry on without real consequence’.
A BBC spokesperson said: ‘Whilst we do not comment on any individual matter, each case is always considered on its own facts. We are very clear on our expectations that inappropriate behaviour and language will not be tolerated’.
Daily Mail has also contacted Jamie’s representatives for comment.
Last week Jamie brushed off the scandal surrounding his suspension as he joined his co-stars for a night out at Oasis’ reunion show at Wembley.
In his first Instagram post since the scandal broke, Jamie joined Tony Clay and Natalie Cassidy as well as her partner Marc Humphreys.
Sharing some photos to his Story the group got into the Britpop spirit, wearing bucket hats and Oasis merchandise.
Jamie could been seen singing-a-long to the band’s hit songs in the crowd while Natalie cheered.
Reports suggest the actor will return to work after a three month suspension, despite calls for him to undergo ‘awareness training’
Shani Dhanda from disability charity Scope said: ‘What shocked me most about this story is the character Jamie (centre) plays in the show often appears alongside another character called Janet who has Down syndrome (far left)
While leader of Blackpool Council’s Conservative party called on the actor to return to the city and ‘apologise in person’ for the hurt his words had caused
BBC bosses are reportedly facing questions over the difference in treatment John Torode and Jamie after both used ‘offensive language’.
The MasterChef star, 59, has been sacked after allegedly ‘used the N-word twice while singing along to a Kanye West song’.
According to The Sun, bosses at the BBC are being questioned over a disparity in how both situations have been handled – with one star sacked and the other suspended.
A source said: ‘The difference in treatment between John and Jamie – for very similar incidents – has left questions to be answered.
‘The BBC have tied themselves into knots with this – for them both stars appear to have used unacceptable and offensive language but only one has been sacked while another has kept his lucrative salary and got away with just a suspension.’
‘Disabled colleagues have been left wondering why incidents of ableist slurs seemingly aren’t being taken as seriously as racist language and there are no clear answers coming from bosses,’ the source added.
A spokesperson for the BBC told Daily Mail: ‘Whilst we do not comment on any individual matter, each case is always considered on its own facts.
Last week Jamie brushed off the scandal surrounding his suspension as he joined his co-stars for a night out at Oasis’ reunion show at Wembley
In his first Instagram post since the scandal broke, Jamie joined Tony Clay and Natalie Cassidy as well as her partner Marc Humphreys
‘We are very clear on our expectations that inappropriate behaviour and language will not be tolerated.’
Jamie was reportedly backstage during rehearsals with Wynne Evans who could be heard saying ‘Oh my God’ when he made the remark.
He has since issued an apology, sharing that he did not fully understand the derogatory nature of the term he used but now that he is aware, he is ‘deeply embarrassed’.
The Sun reported at the time that Jamie told a former partner how it was ‘not clear’ if he would return to EastEnders and quoted him as saying: ‘I accept the karma that has come my way due to some bad choices.’
It continued that Jamie told how he was now ‘attempting to write the wrongs in my life’. He added he wanted to ‘sincerely apologise for the mistakes I made and for hurting you and how I handled the whole situation’.
