Strictly Come Dancing contestant Balvinder Sopal delivered an emotionally charged performance on Saturday's episode, dedicating her dance to her late mother in a moving tribute that moved the audience to tears.
A Daughter's Heartfelt Tribute
The 46-year-old actress, known for her soap roles, performed a glittering Bollywood routine with professional partner Julian Caillon to Ed Sheeran's track Sapphire. Both dancers were spectacularly dressed in head-to-toe gold costumes for the couple's choice dance.
Before taking to the dance floor, Balvinder revealed this performance held profound personal significance, being dedicated to her mother Nirmal Sopal, who passed away in February 2024. She emotionally explained that her mother's memory played a crucial role in her decision to join the competition.
The Motivation Behind Her Strictly Journey
"Last year was a really terrible year for us," Balvinder shared. "Losing my mum felt like, and still does, losing a part of me." She fondly recalled their close relationship, describing cherished moments of coming home from work to share tea and warmth under a blanket together.
The actress confessed she had initially turned down every opportunity that came her way until Strictly approached her. "Then Strictly came knocking and I thought 'yes, this is my yes year and I'm going to do it because I want to be seen - because my mum would want me to be seen'," she revealed.
The Mental Toll of Competition
Despite her inspirational motivation, Balvinder has found the competition challenging for her mental wellbeing. Last month, she disclosed that the intense rehearsal schedule and facing the dance-off twice had taken a significant emotional toll.
"I am really surprised at how mentally taxing it has been," she told the Mail on Sunday. "It's not just the dancing you have to think about, it's everything else around it. It's balancing work life, family life and then all the stuff that you might see online."
She acknowledged the difficulty of dealing with public opinion and online commentary, noting that former contestant Amanda Abbington had previously spoken about developing mild PTSD after her Strictly experience.
End of an Era for Strictly
The emotional revelations come during a period of significant change for the long-running BBC show. Balvinder expressed sadness about the recent announcement that veteran hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will be leaving together after this series.
"Some of us are quite sad because it is the end of an era," she said. "They are of the old school of Strictly, the time of Len Goodman and Bruce Forsythe - they bring all of that legacy with them."
She praised the departing hosts as "the matriarchs of the show" who had "taken care of the show in the best possible way," suggesting their departure would mark a fundamental shift in the programme's direction.
