Strictly Come Dancing contestant Balvinder Sopal has won over viewers with her self-deprecating humour after making a light-hearted dig at her frequent appearances in the dreaded dance-off. The EastEnders star, who has found herself in the bottom two a staggering four times during the current series, made the witty comment during Saturday night's live show on November 29.
Sopal's Quick-Witted Response to Judges
After performing a jive to Maxine Nightingale's "Right Back Where We Started From" with her professional partner Julian Caillon, Sopal received critique from judge Anton du Beke. He noted some "hesitancy in the legs" during her performance, explaining that this had caused timing issues.
Du Beke did offer praise alongside his constructive feedback, telling the actress: "There was so much to like. You had this enthusiasm, this vivacity." It was then that Sopal delivered her now widely-praised response, quipping: "I will come back and do it again in the dance off."
Viewers React to Sopal's Remarkable Resilience
The remark prompted an immediate groan from her dance partner Caillon, while judge Craig Revel Horwood acknowledged her growing reputation in these high-pressure situations, declaring that Sopal is "good at dance-offs, darling."
On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), viewers were quick to applaud the soap star's ability to maintain her sense of humour despite the constant pressure. One fan wrote: "Bal already joking about the dance-off, god bless our queen," while another noted the audience's mixed reaction: "The audience had no idea whether to boo or cheer that comment from Bal."
Other viewers found her comment more touching than humorous. One concerned fan posted: "Bal joking about the dance off oh someone hug her please," while another observed: "Bal expecting to be in the dance off as usual, sad really."
The 'Comeback Queen' Finds Support in Judges
Earlier in the week, Sopal had spoken to The Independent about how judge Motsi Mabuse's support has been crucial in helping her bounce back after each dance-off appearance. Mabuse has affectionately dubbed her the "comeback queen," a title that Sopal said left her with her "heart in bits in the nicest possible way."
The actress emphasized her determination to remain in the competition, stating: "We have fought tooth and nail every single time to be here to show people we really do enjoy being part of the competition." Despite her four dance-off appearances, Sopal has consistently impressed the judges enough to survive elimination each time, demonstrating both her dancing ability and remarkable resilience under pressure.
