EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal, known for her role as Suki Panesar, opened up about her emotional turmoil after landing in the bottom two for the second consecutive week on Strictly Come Dancing. Appearing on the spin-off show It Takes Two on Tuesday, 21 October, alongside her professional dance partner Julian Callion, Balvinder spoke candidly with host Fleur East about the devastating experience of facing the dance-off yet again.
“My heart just sank. I felt quite disappointed. I thought we’d done enough to come back after the week previous, where we were, again, bottom two,” Balvinder confessed, her voice heavy with emotion. “Yeah, I was crushed.” Fleur, a 2022 Strictly contestant herself, sympathized, noting, “Yeah, it is such a crushing feeling.”
Julian, making his debut as a Strictly professional dancer, shared how he supported Balvinder after the results were announced. “To be honest, I didn’t really say much because we’d actually just been in there seven days ago. I think in those situations where it’s high pressure, it’s high stress, sometimes the more you say and the more you try to think, the worse it is,” he explained. He added firmly, “I definitely don’t think we were there based on dance ability or anything.”
The pair faced off against rugby star Chris Robshaw and his partner Nadiya Bychkova in the dance-off, as both couples received the fewest public votes. In a dramatic turn, the judges opted to save Balvinder and Julian, with Craig Revel Horwood casting the decisive vote. This decision came under a new rule change that prevents head judge Shirley Ballas from having the final say every week.
When Fleur asked Balvinder how it felt to be saved by Craig, the actress delivered a heartfelt and fiery tribute to the famously tough judge, known for his sharp critiques and strict scoring. “Oh, I mean, I am so grateful to Craig, actually,” Balvinder said. “And, he’s one of the scariest judges, I think. But, Sunday night, he saved us and I can’t thank him enough.” Craig’s decision was based on Balvinder’s “quality” and “technical ability,” marking a pivotal moment for the actress in the competition.
Balvinder and Julian’s journey on Strictly Come Dancing continues, with the actress’s gratitude toward Craig underscoring the high stakes and emotional rollercoaster of the live shows.