Strictly Come Dancing contestant Balvinder Sopal has ignited a fierce debate amongst viewers following her appearance on the BBC's It Takes Two on Monday night. The EastEnders actress, who plays Suki Panesar, made a remark about her former co-star Amber Davies that left fans divided over its intent.
The Divisive Interview
The 47-year-old soap star, who was eliminated alongside her professional partner Julian Caillon, 30, on Sunday night, spoke to host Fleur East. Sopal and Caillon lost a tense semi-final dance-off against Amber Davies, 29, and Nikita Kuzmin, 27. All four judges—Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke—voted to save the former Love Island winner and West End performer.
When asked if she felt nervous facing Davies, Sopal replied that she was not. "But I will say this, Amber is a wonderful, wonderful contestant, and a wonderful woman," she stated. "She is of a different calibre. So going up against Amber... honestly, was game over for us because we’re not of that level, we’re not of that standard. I certainly wasn't."
Sopal emphasised her novice status, saying she entered the competition unable to master basic steps. Julian Caillon added that they focused on giving their best performance regardless of the opponent.
Mixed Reactions on Social Media
The comment about Davies being "of a different calibre" quickly sparked discussion on X, formerly Twitter. Some viewers interpreted it as a veiled criticism that could exacerbate online negativity towards Davies. One user questioned: "Did Balvinder just completely throw Amber under the bus with that ITT interview…as if the hate she’s been getting wasn’t bad enough?"
Another pointed out Sopal's past dance experience, suggesting the remark was "very unnecessary…very shady." However, many fans rushed to defend Sopal's character, insisting it was a genuine compliment acknowledging Davies's superior stage experience. "I think what Bal meant was that she knew amber was way better than her so knew she was going out," argued one supporter.
An Emotional Farewell to the Ballroom
Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon became the tenth couple eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing 2025, bowing out at the semi-final stage despite surviving a record five previous dance-offs. For their final performance, they reprised their Salsa to Gloria Estefan.
In an emotional speech on the main show, Sopal told Caillon: "You've just held me in your hands... I've never felt alone on this floor." The professional dancer, for whom Sopal was his first celebrity partner, praised her unbreakable spirit, saying: "It took six dance offs and a perfect score to take this lady out."
Sopal also paid tribute to hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on their final series, linking them to the era of Bruce Forsyth and Len Goodman. Strictly Come Dancing concludes with its grand final this weekend on BBC One and iPlayer.
