I won't fall prey to the Strictly curse ..Michelle is just like a sister to me

Dispelling any rumours of romance and the dreaded Strictly curse, actor Jamie Borthwick says his partner Michelle Tsiakkas mothers him and he secretly idolises her boyfriend.

- SARA WALLIS

Fans saw the chemistry between EastEnder Jamie and the pro dancer on the launch show as they tested out cute nicknames for each other.

But Jamie, who is single at the moment, insists they are so much like siblings that "nobody has to worry".

He laughs: "The idea of that whole Strictly curse, well it's definitely not going to be a thing here because it would be weird doing that with my sister.

"Michelle and I met before Strictly and we instantly had a connection. But she is like a sister, an aunt, a mum, a best friend. She's looking after me, she's mothering me."

And Jamie, 30, who has played cheeky chappy Jay on the BBC soap since he was 11, says he is in awe of Michelle's real-life partner Simone Arena.

He explains: "Her boyfriend doesn't know it yet because we've never met, but he's my rock already.

"I've been looking him up, watching him dance on his shows and I'm like, 'Mate, you're my icon'.

"He's an absolutely fantastic dancer."

Michelle, 29, adds: "He hasn't met Jamie yet, but I think when they do, it's going to be just this lovely relationship that we all have.

"Jamie and I are like brother and sister, we have established such a lovely connection so early, which is special."

Jamie and Michelle, who perform on their first live show tonight, are fewer than two weeks into training, but Jamie confesses it has taken its toll.

He says: "Already it's like Strictly's won. It has broken me already and I'm only a few days in.