Balvinder Sopal, the actress famed for playing Suki Panesar in EastEnders and currently competing on Strictly Come Dancing, has inadvertently shared a significant spoiler for the BBC soap, sending fans into a frenzy. The 46-year-old star posted behind-the-scenes photos from the EastEnders set during breaks from her intense Strictly rehearsals, but it was a seemingly innocent selfie that contained a major clue about an upcoming dramatic storyline.
The Hospital Bed Spoiler
In a photo shared to her Instagram Stories, Balvinder was pictured enjoying a breakfast snack. However, eagle-eyed fans quickly noticed a hospital bed in the background, immediately sparking speculation about which character might be occupying it. Many questioned if it was her on-screen wife, Eve Unwin, suggesting a potential emergency for the popular lesbian couple.
Followers were quick to comment on the post, with one asking directly, 'Suki is sitting at somebody's bedside! Is it Eve?' Another viewer joked about the soap's penchant for drama, noting, 'They never have a single Christmas or New Year in peace.' A third fan predicted more seasonal turmoil, writing, 'More Xmas doom and gloom by the looks of it,' alongside an eye-roll emoji.
Suki and Eve became a landmark couple for EastEnders, as the first lesbian pair to marry on the soap. Their wedding was a central event, broadcast on New Year's Day 2025, making their storyline a firm favourite among viewers.
The Mental Toll of Strictly Come Dancing
This behind-the-scenes glimpse comes as Balvinder has been openly discussing the significant impact that Strictly Come Dancing is having on her mental wellbeing. The actress has found herself in the dreaded dance-off twice, first against former England Rugby captain Chris Robshaw and again in the second week against presenter Ross King.
Balvinder confessed to The Mail on Sunday that the experience has been more mentally taxing than she anticipated. She revealed, 'I am really surprised at how mentally taxing it has been, I don't know why.' Elaborating further, she explained, 'Because 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 because we've been in the dance off twice.'
She spoke about the challenge of dealing with public opinion and online commentary, stating, 'It's people's opinions and attitudes stuff but you just have to stop that sometimes you have to get out of your head and enjoy it because that's what we're here for.'
A Changing of the Guard at Strictly
Balvinder's revelations coincide with major news about the future of Strictly Come Dancing itself. The show's long-standing hosts, Tess Daly, 56, and Claudia Winkleman, 53, have announced they are leaving the programme. Claudia is set to host a new chat show with the same producers as Graham Norton, and it was reportedly always agreed that she and Tess would depart the BBC show together.
Speaking about how the current cast has reacted to this seismic shift, Balvinder expressed a sense of sadness. '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 acknowledged that their departure will fundamentally change the show, adding, 'So when they depart, we're going to have two new people that are going to change direction, it will be a completely different show.' Balvinder praised the duo's chemistry and role, saying, 'Claudia is so funny and they're so organic. They really are the best friends, they're the matriarchs of the show and they've taken care of the show in the best possible way.'
This period of change for Strictly follows past controversies regarding its demanding schedule. Two years ago, actress Amanda Abbington revealed she had been diagnosed with mild PTSD after her time on the show, citing 'several reasons both personal and professional' and referring to an exhausting rehearsal schedule.
