Strictly Come Dancing star Balvinder Sopal has opened up about a moment of profound self-doubt, confessing she nearly quit the BBC competition after an intense struggle with her latest dance. The EastEnders actress, who has found herself in the dreaded dance-off three times, is once again the bookmakers' favourite to be eliminated.
An Emotional Breakdown
Speaking on the BBC's companion show It Takes Two, Balvinder gave a heartbreaking account of her difficult week. She revealed that learning the Rumba pushed her to her absolute limit. On Tuesday, she reached a breaking point, admitting she 'threw the towel in' and retreated to a corner where she cried in frustration.
Her professional partner, Jules, provided crucial support during this low moment. Balvinder recounted his calm response: "Jules was standing there and went, 'When you're ready, bro... we've got to get this done'." This encouragement helped her to regroup and continue with the challenging routine.
The Toll of the Competition
This is not the first time Balvinder's confidence has taken a hit during her Strictly Come Dancing journey. After being saved in the Halloween week results, she was visibly emotional, telling host Claudia Winkleman, "I didn't think we were going to be here. When they called our names I was a little bit like 'there's been a mistake'."
In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, the actress elaborated on the unexpected mental strain of the show. She described the experience as 'mentally taxing', citing the difficulty of balancing dance rehearsals with work, family life, and dealing with public opinion online, especially after being in the dance-off multiple times.
Facing the Odds Once More
Despite her resilience and the judges saving her each time, the pressure continues to mount. According to the latest odds from Betway, Balvinder and her partner are the top picks for elimination with odds of 100/1 to depart the competition.
Close behind them are Harry Aikines-Aryeetey with odds of 50/1 and La Voix with odds of 40/1. With the competition heating up, all eyes will be on Balvinder to see if she can overcome this fresh blow and continue her Strictly journey.
