EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal has been in the bottom two four times but bookmakers predict her luck may run out
Katy Hallam and Chiara Fiorillo
18:13, 29 Nov 2025
Strictly Come Dancing contestants enjoyed a reprieve last weekend with no elimination taking place after La Voix had to pull out of the competition due to injury.
Nevertheless, with the show now entering its 10th week and the grand finale approaching rapidly, the battle for survival has intensified dramatically. Scores and public votes from the previous week will roll forward into this week’s results, meaning celebrities’ fates will hang on their combined performances across both episodes.
One famous face will bid farewell on Sunday, bringing their BBC journey to a close. According to current betting odds and expert predictions, EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal, aged 46, may find herself in jeopardy.
The actress, who has portrayed Suki Panesar in the long-running soap since 2020, alongside professional partner Julian Caillon, has faced the dreaded dance-off on four separate occasions throughout this series – yet has managed to escape elimination each time. But former Strictly professional Ola Jordan suspects Balvinder’s luck may finally run out.
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Speaking to Mecca Bingo, Ola commented: “I think Balvinder is the most likely to go this week. She’s the weakest dancer in the competition now, and I expect she’ll end up in the bottom two again.”, reports the Mirror.
“If that happens, I think she’ll struggle to survive the dance-off unless something unexpected happens. After her, the weakest for me is Alex [Kingston].”
Meanwhile, online bookmaker Grosvenor Sport has also priced up the Strictly odds, revealing who’s tipped to leave next and who’s the current favourite to lift the Glitterball trophy. Based on the latest odds, Balvinder is also the contestant most likely to leave the dancing competition.
The latest odds for the next elimination are:
Balvinder Sopal – 1/5.
Alex Kingston – 7/2.
Amber Davies – 9/1.
Karen Carney – 25/1.
George Clarke – 50/1.
Lewis Cope – 50/1.
Last week, Balvinder and Julian delivered their Argentine tango to The Logical Song by Supertramp, which Anton Du Beke said he “loved” for its “real characterisation”, describing it as one of their finest performances.
Alex and her dance partner Johannes Radebe earned 35 points for their couple’s choice to a mash-up of History Repeating by Propellerheads and Look At Me by Geri Halliwell, with Shirley Ballas praising the former Doctor Who star as an “elegant, expressive lady”.
Former Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope and his partner Katya Jones claimed the top spot on the Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard with a flawless score of 40 during last weekend’s Blackpool special. Following their Charleston performance to Arctic Monkeys’ I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor, judge Motsi Mabuse commended the pair, declaring their “energy was insane” and the “roof is off”.
Revealing that La Voix, who had been partnered with professional dancer Aljaz Skorjanec, would be departing the programme, host Tess Daly announced: “Now, as you may have heard, La Voix sustained an injury, meaning that she can’t dance in Blackpool tonight, and following further advice from our medical team, we can now confirm she has very sadly had to withdraw from the competition.”
Co-host Claudia Winkleman added: “We will be speaking to La Voix on tomorrow night’s show, we love you so, so much.”
La Voix was spotted observing from the Blackpool audience on Saturday evening, as the competition’s remaining six couples took to the floor. Sharing her heartbreak on Instagram, La Voix wrote: “I’m absolutely devastated to be withdrawing from Strictly Come Dancing. This isn’t the glittering exit I ever imagined, and it breaks my heart to feel like I’m letting people down.
“My spirit wanted to keep dancing but my foot has other ideas. Thank you for every cheer, every vote, and every sparkle of support – it’s meant the world to me. This isn’t the ending I imagined, but I’ll cherish this forever.”
