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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Jamie Roberts

EastEnders' Jamie Borthwick discovers he's cousins with co-star after meeting on set

EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick made a surprise discovery when Charlie Winter joined him in Walford in 2018.

The 26-year-old found out that his new co-star, 24, was actually more than just an actor - he was in fact family.

Jamie, who has played Jay Brown in the soap since 2006, became intrigued when the actor shared the same name as his uncle.

After a bit of digging Jamie discovered that the actor who played Hunter was his second cousin.

Speaking to The Sun, Jamie said: "My great uncle is called Charlie Winter, so when they said there was a kid coming in called Charlie Winter, I was like, 'Seriously?'

"Turns out we are second cousins."

Jamie Bortwick and Charlie Winter are second cousins (INSTAGRAM)

While Jamie has been a mainstay in the soap for 15 years, Charlie's time on Walford was much shorter.

The actor's tearaway character was sensationally killed off after just a year in the Square.

In his short but action-packed spell on the soap, teen killer Hunter shot Ben Mitchell causing his lungs to collapse in the middle of the Queen Vic.

He then took pregnant Louise Mitchell hostage in front of horrified onlookers in the Square.

When Keanu witnessed what was going on he tried to stop him but the vicious teen shot him. what he was doing he charged at Hunter and was shot by the tearaway teenager.

Jamie Borthwick has played Jay on EastEnders for 15 years (BBC/Kieron McCarron/Jack Barnes)

After throwing Louise to the ground Hunter then pointed the firearm at her but before he could commit more atrocities, police shot him dead in front of his mum, Mel Owen.

The pair certainly aren't the first real-life family connection on the Square and more than likely won't be the last.

Who can remember Joe Swashes stint on the soap back in 2003? After his character wheeler-dealer character Mickey Miller arrived he was followed by his fictional family.

However, his sister on the show was actually his sibling in real life too with Shana Swash playing teen mum Demi.

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