The actress made history on the show as she survived five dance-offs
The actress made history on the show as she survived five dance-offs
Balvinder Sopal is the latest contestant to leave Strictly Come Dancing after falling at the final hurdle. The actress entered the semi-final results show bottom of the leaderboard and exited the competition after taking part in the dance off against Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin.
After Balvinder and Julian had performed their salsa and Amber and Nikita did their couple’s choice again, judges Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood all opted to save the former Love Island star. The final which takes place on Saturday December 20, will also feature George Clarke and Alexis Warr, and Karen Carney and Carlos Gu.
The EastEnders star spoke fondly about her time on Strictly and thanked her dance partner Julian Caillon for making it a memorable experience. She said: “I’ve absolutely adored every single minute. All the dance offs, all the challenges, but just more than anything, just being in this building and dancing on this floor with such an amazing human being.
“It was my yes Year, and I said yes to Strictly. My family, we’ve had some hard times, but they’ve been here.” Speaking to Julian, who is competing in his first ever Strictly competition, she added: “I mean, I have no words, actually. You’ve been brilliant in every sense of the word.
“When I wobbled, and when I felt really brilliant about the dance and got the steps right, you’ve just held me in your hands and you’ve gone, ‘Bal, we’ve got this. It’s just me and you, and we’re gonna do this together’, and we have done every single dance together, I’ve never felt alone on this floor, and I just want you to remember me. Don’t replace me too soon.”
When asked about having Balvinder as his first partner on Strictly Come Dancing, Julian said: “I just think that Bal embodies what this competition is about.
“Her spirit is unbreakable, and [to Bal] you have shown me that I’m actually dreaming too small, and Bal can inspire us that whatever any of us want in life, all you have to have is the desire to go after it.”
The remaining three couples will perform during next weekend’s final. It will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 7pm GMT on Saturday December 20, with the winner crowned that evening.
The final will begin with a group routine from professional dancers and this year’s finalists, before they each perform three times in a bid to be announced as winners.
Each couple will revisit a previous routine, perform a show dance and then take to the floor with their favourite dance from the series. The complete cast of 2025 will also return to the dance floor one last time for a group performance.
Viewers votes alone will decide who walks away with the Glitterball, as the judges’ scores are purely for guidance. After the winner has been crowned, viewers can turn their attention to the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special which airs on Christmas Day.
