EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick admits he suffers from ‘terrible anxiety’ around illness after battling emetophobia – a fear of growing up: ‘I’m a massive hypochondriac’

EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick has opened up about his family’s health problems and admitted he suffers from ‘terrible health anxiety’.

The actor, who has played Jay Brown in the soap since 2006, will run the London Marathon this weekend after his father and uncle were diagnosed with the disease.

Jamie, 29, said his father Simon, 57, and his uncle Charlie had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and he also has a cousin undergoing treatment.

Suffering from emetophobia, the fear of growing up, Jamie said his fear of illness became increasingly worse.

“I have terrible health fears, I’m a huge hypochondriac,” said Jamie, from Barking, east London The mirror.

“Every day I wake up and think, ‘What’s wrong with me today?'”

Jamie added: ‘The therapy sessions really helped me, but I don’t think these things will ever completely leave you.’

Jamie’s family has recovered from prostate cancer, he says, admitting he broke down in tears when his mother told him about his father’s diagnosis.

But his father’s illness was caught early and after a successful operation, Simon is completely safe.

To raise money and awareness, Jamie will be running the London Marathon on Sunday – running as character Jake alongside Emma Barton, who plays Honey Mitchell.

Jake has been training for the run in memory of his late wife Lola (Danielle Harold), who died last year from a brain tumor in an award-winning plot in the soap.

In March, he said on Instagram: ’17 months after my sister ran the London Marathon for @prostatecanceruk, I’m now doing the same for our beloved father and uncle!

‘Prostate cancer affects 1 in 8 men and the more awareness we create and encourage all our men to get checked much earlier, hopefully we can reduce that number! The link is in the Bio for all donations and we really appreciate anything anyone can give!

Writing on Instagram a year after his sister ran the marathon, he said in March: “17 months after my sister ran the London Marathon for @prostatecanceruk, I’m now doing the same for our beloved father and uncle!”

The upcoming storyline follows both characters through their training process and through the marathon itself as they continue to navigate their grief

“And to all those who have sent messages of support and made donations, I really appreciate it and am sending all the in the world .”

Jamie’s character Jay is preparing to run the marathon and training with Honey, who is married to Lola’s grandfather and Jay’s former foster father Billy Mitchell.

The storyline follows both characters through their training process and through the marathon itself as they continue to navigate their grief.

Lola passed away in 2023 after a battle with brain cancer, with Jay turning to drugs to cope, leaving behind her daughter Lexi who she shared with her cousin Ben Mitchell.

As well as Jamie, Emma will also be taking part in the race in real life – both on behalf of separate charities close to their hearts.

Emma will be acting on behalf of BBC Children in Need and both will perform parts of the event in character, filming scenes live from the route on the day that will be featured on the show.

Jamie’s character Jay prepares to run the marathon and trains with Honey, who is married to Lola’s grandfather and Jay’s former foster father Billy Mitchell (pictured in March)

Jamie previously said of the run: ‘I’m so honored to be taking part in the London Marathon.

‘EastEnders is a London show, and as far as I know we’ve never seen it on screen before, so I’m really excited to be a part of it, even though I swore I’d never see it after the last show would run more. time!

‘I’m going to take part in Prostate Cancer UK because both my father and uncle have had the disease.

‘Thankfully they are now both cancer free and we are all so grateful for the great work Prostate Cancer UK does to support people through their illness.’