Eastenders

EastEnders actors shocked after finding out they’re secretly related after meeting on set

Published

2 weeks ago

March 22, 2025

MaiilOnline

EastEnders fans were shocked to learn that Jay Brown actor Jamie Borthwick is actually related to a former co-star – and it turns out neither of them were aware of it.

EastEnders fans were astonished to find out that Jamie Borthwick, who plays Jay Brown, is actually related to another cast member – a revelation that was new to Jamie as well.

Jamie rose to fame with his role as Jay on the BBC One soap, making his debut in 2006. It wasn’t long before he became one of the show’s most beloved and iconic characters.

His character has been involved in many significant storylines, ranging from shocking affairs and struggles with substance abuse to covering up a murder and uncovering the truth about his past. Jay’s time in Walford has been full of intense drama.

More recently, Jay has been grappling with the heartbreaking loss of his wife, Lola (Danielle Harold), who tragically passed away from a brain tumour in 2023.

Off-screen, fans were shocked to learn that Jamie has a family connection with a fellow co-star. What made it even more surprising was that Jamie himself wasn’t aware of this relationship, according to Plymouth Live.

In 2021, Jamie shared that he only discovered he was related to co-star Charlie Winter after Charlie joined the EastEnders cast.

He recalled: “My great uncle is named Charlie Winter, so when I heard there was a character coming in called Charlie Winter, I thought, ‘No way!’” Jamie then did some research and confirmed his intuition was spot on. He shared: “It turns out we’re second cousins.”

Charlie joined EastEnders in 2018, portraying Mel Owen’s (Tamzin Outhwaite) son, Hunter. However, his character was written out the following year after a storyline where he shot Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden) in the Queen Vic.

One shocked fan commented on an EastEnders Facebook page after learning Jamie and Charlie are related: “I would never have guessed they were related, to be honest.”

Another fan expressed their surprise, saying: “No way, I remember the other guy from EastEnders.” A third added with some admiration, “That’s pretty cool, to be fair.”