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Strictly star Jowita Przystal in secret romance with EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick after former accomplice Pete Wicks let slip their shut bond

Strictly star Jowita Przystał had a fling with EastEnders‘ actor Jamie Borthwick during filming of the BBC show, MailOnline has been told.

The pair, who first met when Jamie won the Strictly Christmas special in 2023, became romantically involved last year as they competed for the glitter ball trophy with their respective partners.

They continue to remain close while performing up and down the country on the Strictly Come Dancing Live! tour, which sees Jamie, 30, paired with Michelle Tsiakkas while Jowita joins the lineup of professional dancers.

Jowita, 30, reached the Strictly semifinal with former TOWIE favourite Pete Wicks and the pair were rumoured to have ‘grown close’ throughout their time on the show.

But MailOnline can reveal that it was soap star Jamie who caught Jowita’s eye and their relationship became a running joke between the Strictly cast.

Pete even cheekily referred to Jowita’s closeness with Jamie when she appeared on his Staying Relevant podcast, admitting the Polish dancer would have preferred the actor as her Strictly partner.

Strictly star Jowita Przysta¿ had a fling with EastEnders' actor Jamie Borthwick during filming of the BBC show, MailOnline has been told

Strictly star Jowita Przystał had a fling with EastEnders’ actor Jamie Borthwick during filming of the BBC show, MailOnline has been told  

The pair became romantically involved last year as they competed for the glitter ball trophy with their respective partners (pictured in June 2023)

The pair became romantically involved last year as they competed for the glitter ball trophy with their respective partners (pictured in June 2023)

They continue to remain close while performing on the Strictly Come Dancing Live! tour, which sees Jamie paired with Michelle Tsiakkas while Jowita joins the lineup of professional dancers

They continue to remain close while performing on the Strictly Come Dancing Live! tour, which sees Jamie paired with Michelle Tsiakkas while Jowita joins the lineup of professional dancers 

A source told MailOnline: ‘Jowita and Jamie grew really close while filming Strictly.

‘Things did get romantic between them, Jowita loves Jamie’s playfulness and sense of humour, not to mention he’s a very talented dancer.

‘So many rumours were circulating about Jowita and Pete that her relationship with Jamie went under the radar, which was something they laughed about.

‘They’re still enjoying each other’s company as they perform on the Strictly tour, with the cast believing their romance could well lead to something long-term.’

Jamie and Jowita were pictured giggling together last Monday evening in Sheffield after having a meal at Miller and Carter with the Strictly cast. 

Pete previously alluded to the pair’s secret romance on his podcast Staying Relevant when Jowita joined him as co-host in November.

He asked: ‘I have a question for you, I think I have asked you this before but you have to answer. You have to answer this. Don’t sit on the fence or do any of that crap, I want to know.

‘If you weren’t dancing with me, who would you want to dance with… and it doesn’t have to be who’s left, it could be people who have gone. Don’t sit on the fence, answer the f***ing question.

Jamie and Jowita were pictured giggling together last Monday evening in Sheffield after having a meal at Miller and Carter with the Strictly cast

Jamie and Jowita were pictured giggling together last Monday evening in Sheffield after having a meal at Miller and Carter with the Strictly cast 

Jamie, pictured with EastEnders co-star Perry Fenwick, won the Strictly Christmas special in 2023 but became the ninth celebrity to be eliminated from the competition last year

Jamie, pictured with EastEnders co-star Perry Fenwick, won the Strictly Christmas special in 2023 but became the ninth celebrity to be eliminated from the competition last year

During their time on Strictly, Jowita was rumoured to have grown close to her celebrity partner Pete Wicks despite the TOWIE star's romance with Maura Higgins

During their time on Strictly, Jowita was rumoured to have grown close to her celebrity partner Pete Wicks despite the TOWIE star’s romance with Maura Higgins

Jowita was previously in a relationship with axed Strictly pro Giovanni Pernice but the pair went their separate ways in March 2023

Jowita was previously in a relationship with axed Strictly pro Giovanni Pernice but the pair went their separate ways in March 2023

Jamie continues to perform with pro partner Michelle Tsiakkas on the Strictly Come Dancing Live! tour after they competed together on last year¿s series

Jamie continues to perform with pro partner Michelle Tsiakkas on the Strictly Come Dancing Live! tour after they competed together on last year’s series

‘If you couldn’t dance with me, who would you like to dance with? I know the answer to this… 100 per cent, Jamie.’ 

Jowita replied: ‘Well probably. I knew him from the Christmas special and we get on very well.’

Pete teased: ‘I said this to you at the weekend actually but you and Jamie would have been great, you get on really well with him and you would have had lots of fun with him and Jamie is a really good dancer, so cool…’

He added: ‘I don’t know why that got weird.’

Pete and Jowita were forced to shutdown speculation they were involved when they danced together on the BBC show last year.

Their passion and onstage chemistry led viewers to believe their partnership had grown into a romance but they continually insisted they were just good friends.

Jowita was reportedly in a three-month relationship with axed Strictly pro Giovanni Pernice before they went separate ways in March 2023.

The Polish dancer joined the Strictly lineup in 2021 and was paired with her first celebrity partner the following year, going onto win the series alongside wildlife cameraman Hamza Yassin.

Jamie has portrayed Jay Brown on EastEnders for the past 18 years, joining the BBC soap when he was 12. 

He won the Strictly Christmas special in 2023 with pro Nancy Xu and was tipped to go all the way during last year’s series but was the ninth celebrity to be knocked out. 

Jowita reacted coyly when Pete joked about the dancer and Jamie¿s closeness on his podcast Staying Relevant

Jowita reacted coyly when Pete joked about the dancer and Jamie’s closeness on his podcast Staying Relevant

Pete and Jowita left Strictly at the semifinal stage of the competition after losing out in the dance-off to Tasha Ghouri and Alja¿ ¿korjanec

Pete and Jowita left Strictly at the semifinal stage of the competition after losing out in the dance-off to Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec

Jowita and Jamie's romance comes as the Strictly tour was rocked by Wynne Evans after he was caught making a crude joke about Janette Manrara

Jowita and Jamie’s romance comes as the Strictly tour was rocked by Wynne Evans after he was caught making a crude joke about Janette Manrara

Jowita and Jamie’s romance comes as the Strictly tour was rocked by Wynne Evans after he was caught making a crude joke about Janette Manrara.

The opera singer was filmed during the tour’s launch suggesting a three-way sex session with the It Takes Two presenter, using the demeaning term ‘spit roast.’

Janette was posing for official photographs alongside the cast, which includes her husband and fellow dancer Aljaz Skorjanec.

The Mail On Sunday’s footage showed BBC Radio Wales host Wynne making the sexist remark, which has since been condemned by BBC bosses.

Wynne, who faced a backlash during one of Strictly’s live shows when his partner Katya Jones forcibly removed his hands from straying across her waist, is said to be on his ‘final warning.’

MailOnline has contacted Jowita and Jamie’s representatives for comment.