Jamie Borthwick, who played Jay Brown on the BBC soap EastEnders for 19 years, will not be returning to the programme, BBC Studios has confirmed.
A spokesperson for BBC Studios said: "We can confirm that Jamie Borthwick will not be returning to EastEnders. We do not comment on individual matters." The broadcaster has not provided further detail on the decision. BBC News has contacted Borthwick's representatives for comment.
Borthwick, 31, joined EastEnders in 2006 and was one of the show's longest-serving cast members. He was suspended earlier this year after using a derogatory term about people with disabilities while on the set of Strictly Come Dancing, a BBC entertainment series in which he took part during its 20th anniversary season last year.
In June, the BBC said his language on the Strictly set was "entirely unacceptable and in no way reflects the values or standards we hold and expect". At that time Borthwick apologised for "any offence and upset" caused by his remarks.
News of his departure from EastEnders follows reports in some outlets that he had been due to restart filming this month after the suspension. Those reports say the actor has now been dropped from the show altogether. The BBC declined to elaborate beyond its statement.
Disability charity Scope responded to the incident earlier this year by urging Borthwick to reflect and educate himself. Scope emphasised the wider impact of derogatory language and the importance of understanding the lived experience of disabled people.
Borthwick's character, Jay Brown, has been a regular presence on Albert Square for nearly two decades. The role encompassed multiple storylines over the years and established Borthwick as a familiar face in British soap drama.
The BBC's statement marks the latest development in a sequence that began with the on-set incident during Strictly rehearsals, followed by the corporation's suspension and public acknowledgement of the inappropriateness of the language used. The broadcaster's handling of cross-show incidents and cast conduct has come under scrutiny in the past, and the corporation frequently says it will not comment on personnel matters beyond confirming outcomes.
As of publication, no timetable has been released for how EastEnders will write the character out of future episodes or whether producers will issue a separate storyline explanation. Representatives for Borthwick have not issued an updated public statement beyond the earlier apology.
EastEnders remains one of the BBC's flagship dramas and has navigated multiple cast changes in its long run. The show's production team and BBC Studios did not provide further details on casting plans following the confirmation that Borthwick will not return.