The BBC has suspended one of its most familiar soap stars after he was heard using a slur against people with disabilities on a TV set, using the phrase to describe the people of Blackpool where he was filming.

EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick has been suspended from the soap after it emerged he once used an ableist slur while filming Strictly Come Dancing last year. Over the weekend, The Sun On Sunday reported that Jamie – who has played Jay Brown in the BBC series for almost 20 years – had used an “unacceptable” term while filming in Blackpool back in November.

The incident took place about six months ago during his time on Strictly Come Dancing and has led to speculation that the actor might have been suspended from the BBC soap. The Manchester Evening News reported that the soap star used the derogatory term in a video referring to the people of Blackpool,