EastEnders star, Balvinder Sopal, was voted off Strictly Come Dancing on Sunday in the semi-final, leaving just three celebrities fighting for the Glitterball trophy
Strictly Come Dancing fans were divided when Balvinder Sopal left the show on Sunday. The EastEnders star, 47, and professional partner, Julian Callion, competed in her record-breaking sixth Strictly dance-off against reality TV star Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin before their luck finally ran out.
On her exit, Balvinder said of her time on the show: “Everyone’s been brilliant. The minute you walk into this building, it’s like a massive hug. Every single time. I’ve walked in, people have just held me and gone ‘you know, you’re all right’, it’s such a wonderful place to work.”
After her tearful farewell dance, many viewers flocked to social media to congratulate the Suki Panesar star, with some saying Balvinder should have stayed in the competition.
READ MORE: Strictly fans figure out why Balvinder Sopal left and say ‘it’s really not fair’READ MORE: Strictly’s Amber Davies breaks silence after tense dance-off and bitter backlash
Praising her determination after ending up in the dance-off a record-breaking six times, one took to X, declaring: “Balvinder highlighted what the show is about, improving each week and when knocked down battling strong to get back up again! Balvinder and Julian Callon deserved to be in the final as been such a great journey for them both and for viewers to watch.”
Meanwhile, another lamented: “You fought so very hard and you made it so far off the back of sheer determination and strength. You broke records. You opened hearts. You lived your dream and gave it your all. Here’s to you Bal Sopal, forever a strictly winner of our hearts.”
There was also the feeling by some viewers, that now finalist, Amber Davies, had an unfair advantage over Balvinder because of her musical theatre background.
The Love Island winner has a string of West End credits under her belt, including The Great Gatsby. However, Amber insists the disciplines are worlds apart.
The reality star’s friend, TikTok star, Hannah Lowther, also told the Mirror that the kind of dance training usually offered in drama schools is “completely different” to what is expected on Strictly.
However, while there was a wealth of support for Balvinder on social media, there were other viewers who thought her time on the show had been up for a while.
Taking to X, one said: “I’ve enjoyed watching Balvinder, but it was definitely her time to go. She did well to stay in so long.” Meanwhile, another shared: “Definitely the right decision. Lovey lady and such a warrior, but she was out-danced by Amber. The right three are in the final.”
And those three are George Clarke, Karen Carney and Amber, who find out their fate on the sequin-strewn final on BBC One on Saturday.
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