The EastEnders star’s time on Strictly Come Dancing is over but fans insist it was never a fair match – for two key reasons.
Balvinder Sopal’s rocky run on Strictly Come Dancing has finally come to an end after a bumpy journey on the show which clearly took its toll on the EastEnders star. On more than one occasion she was in tears live on air after being repeatedly dumped into the dance-off with pro partner Julian Caillon.
The actress, from Gillingham in Kent, had declared that she was “ready to fight” for a spot in the final but the judges didn’t allow it, instead unanimously deciding to put Love Island and stage star Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin through to next week’s big finish instead. But fans insist it was never a fair match – for two key reasons.
On a basic level, many insisted it was unfair to pit a soap star against someone with a long and impressive history of entertaining crowds in some of the West End‘s biggest shows night after night. But they also reckoned the dances they’d been handed by producers had a huge impact on how they could perform.
Balvinder, 47, had to dance a Waltz and a Salsa, while talented Amber, 29, was handed a Tango and the ‘couple’s choice’ for which she scored the perfect 40 to Raye’s cover of Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me To The Moon. The ‘couple’s choice’ on Strictly is a special category of dance where you can express yourself beyond standard ballroom and Latin moves and it traditionally delivers higher scores.
One fan wrote: “Poor Balvinder never had a chance against the experienced and professional West End actress in the dance-off.” But another said: “AND Amber could do a no holds barred showstopper whilst Balvinder had to stick within the limitations of one style! How can that be fair?”
Another said: “I like Amber a lot and she truly deserves to make the final but I’m not sure it’s entirely fair for her to do her rules free couple’s choice in the dance off when Balvinder has a technical salsa. That puts Balvinder at an immediate disadvantage.” One other Strictly fan agreed: “Interesting that Amber has been given a Tango and a Couple’s Choice, when Balvinder gets a Salsa and a Waltz. Not exactly fair.”
However, many spoke in support of Amber, who has had to put up with an unprecedented level of abuse from fans who see her West End background as an unfair advantage. Among those speaking up on Saturday was her professional dancer partner, Nikita.
Speaking directly to her, said: “You have had so much hate every single day from the moment you joined. You’ve had so much hate this week and yet, you came every single day into the training room with a big smile ignoring everybody.
“And just giving me love, giving me a ginger shot as well. But you gave so much love, you always were kind, so caring, you care more about me when I’m supposed to care about you. You care about me every single day, you are such a lovely kind person.
“And I think sometimes, and I speak to the audience at home, just please be kind because it costs nothing and you don’t deserve none of it. You only deserve love because without you I wouldn’t be here, and the show wouldn’t be as good as it is.”
One fan agreed, writing: “The way Amber brings nothing but joy to the dance floor, and yet she’s been met with so much hate… It’s just unfathomable. What do you gain from hating someone because of dance experience? You’re not gonna get them kicked out the show, you just cause hurt.”
Speaking after her elimination, Balvinder said: “All the dance-offs, all the challenges, but just more than anything, just being in this building and dancing on this floor with such an amazing human being. It was my ‘yes year’, and I said yes to Strictly. My family, we’ve had some hard times, but they’ve been here.”
Amber, who has now who survived the dance-off for a second week running, will join online star George Clarke and ex-England footballer Karen Carney in Saturday’s Strictly Come Dancing final.
Strictly Come Dancing returns at 7pm on Saturday night with the winner crowned live that evening
