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Balvinder Sopal is the fifth celebrity contestant announced for Strictly Come Dancing 2025

The actor, known to millions as Suki on EastEnders, will enter the famous ballroom when Strictly returns to ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ One and ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ iPlayer this September

Published: 07:30 am, 12 August 2025
A head and shoulders shot of Balvinder Sopal smiling for the camera wearing a black top
Being on Strictly is a dream that I held on to, with no proof that it would ever happen. Working on EastEnders and being a part of Strictly Come Dancing is the stuff that dreams are made of. I’m far too excited to put into words how I feel but I’m incredibly excited at the prospect of dancing across the ballroom!
— Balvinder Sopal

Balvinder Sopal is the fifth celebrity joining the new series of Strictly Come Dancing. The multi-award-winning entertainment show, produced by ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Studios, returns to ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ One and ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ iPlayer for its new series this September.

Balvinder Sopal is an actor whose career spans theatre, radio, film and television. She is most known for playing the infamous Suki Kaur Panesar (now Unwin) on EastEnders since 2019. As Suki she has been at the heart of some of EastEnders’ most gripping and acclaimed storylines, from being part of ‘The Six’ to her on-off affair with Eve Unwin.

Before EastEnders, Balvinder appeared on many popular TV shows in various guises, including a guest lead in Call The Midwife series seven, Doctors, and Waterloo Road.

On joining Strictly Come Dancing, Balvinder Sopal says: “Being on Strictly is a dream that I held on to, with no proof that it would ever happen. Working on EastEnders and being a part of Strictly Come Dancing is the stuff that dreams are made of. I’m far too excited to put into words how I feel but I’m incredibly excited at the prospect of dancing across the ballroom!â€

The news was revealed live from Albert Square on 12 August on ITV’s Good Morning Britain and the remaining celebrity contestants joining the new series will be announced in due course.

Strictly Come Dancing is a ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Studios Entertainment production for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ One and ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ iPlayer and was commissioned by Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment at the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½. The Executive Producer is Sarah James, the Series Editors are Nicola Fitzgerald and Jack Gledhill. The Commissioning Editor for the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ is Jo Wallace.

Strictly Come Dancing will return to ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ One and ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ iPlayer this autumn. Add Strictly to your watchlist on ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ iPlayer now.

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