Balvinder Sopal has made Strictly Come Dancing history by surviving the dance-off for a record fifth time this series. The EastEnders actress, partnered with professional dancer Julian Caillon, has defied the odds more than any other celebrity contestant in the show's history.
Despite a challenging journey, the couple impressed judges last weekend with a standing ovation for their Viennese Waltz. On Saturday, they scored 35 points for both a Salsa and a Waltz, their joint best of the series, but finished bottom of the leaderboard with a total of 70 points.
Before the show, Sopal said: 'I can't tell you, this is the hardest I think I've ever worked. The pros are incredible, superhuman, literal gods honestly.' She added that appearing on the show is a tribute to her late mother Nirmal, who died last year. 'This is her dream actually. I think she would have been really proud. I'm holding mum's legacy up.'
Sopal announced her mother's death in a heartfelt tribute last year, describing her passing as peaceful and with dignity. She said: 'We walked mum as far as we could. It's been hard, but I've never known strength like mums. I'm proud to be her daughter.'
Known for her role as Suki Panesar in EastEnders, Sopal has taken on groundbreaking storylines including an abusive marriage and an LGBTQ+ romance. She was also central to the 2023 'The Six' whodunnit, filming multiple endings to keep the Christmas Day reveal secret. Her performances have earned her several awards, including a RadioTimes.com Soap Award.
