- Culture
- TV & Radio
- News
The ‘EastEnders’ star has so far ended up in the dance-off four times
Katie RosseinskySaturday 29 November 2025 20:00 GMTComments
CloseStrictly's Balvinder Sopal jokes about being in the dance-off again
Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email
Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter
Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter
Email*SIGN UPI would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice
Strictly Come Dancing’s Balvinder Sopal made a quick-witted dig at her unenviable track record in the show’s dance-off – and her fans couldn’t get enough of her sense of humour.
The EastEnders star has been in four dance-offs so far throughout the series, managing to narrowly avoid elimination by impressing the judges each time.
During Saturday (29 November) night’s episode, the actor alluded to her frequent appearances in the bottom two of the competition after Anton du Beke offered some critique on her jive.
Sopal performed the routine to “Right Back Where We Started From” by Maxine Nightingale with her dance partner Julian Caillon, who made his Strictly debut in September.
Du Beke suggested that "hesitancy in the legs” had been the source of some of Sopal’s problems during the dance, telling her: “When you don’t commit to one leg or the other, you get between the feet and you get on the wrong foot.”
“There was so much to like,” he added. “You had this enthusiasm, this vivacity.”
open image in gallerySopal was praised by fans for her quick wit (BBC)“I will come back and do it again in the dance off,” Sopal shot back, prompting Caillon to groan.
Du Beke’s fellow judge Craig Revel Horwood then conceded that Sopal is “good at dance-offs, darling”.
Viewers on Twitter/X praised the soap star for her good humour, with one social media user writing: “Bal already joking about the dance-off, god bless our queen.”
open image in gallerySopal and Caillon danced a jive during Saturday’s show (BBC)“The audience had no idea whether to boo or cheer that comment from Bal,” another added.
“Bal is sooo funny,” a third chimed in, with another hailing her as a “legend”.
Some viewers found her remark more poignant though, with one fan writing: “Bal joking about the dance off oh someone hug her please.”
“Bal expecting to be in the dance off as usual, sad really,” another said.
Earlier this week, Sopal told The Independent that judge Motsi Mabuse’s support has helped her bounce back after the dance-offs.
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day
New subscribers only. £9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled.
Try for freeADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day
New subscribers only. £9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled.
Try for freeADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Mabuse has hailed her as the “comeback queen”, and Sopal said the judge’s remark had her “heart in bits in the nicest possible way”.
She added: “We have fought tooth and nail every single time to be here to show people we really do enjoy being part of the competition.”
More about
Anton Du BekeStrictly Come DancingCraig Revel HorwoodJoin our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments
