Strictly 2025 finalists revealed after most emotional elimination of the series

Our 2025 Strictly Come Dancing finalists have been revealed – alas, not before one final, very emotional elimination.

Tonight saw Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon become the last couple to waltz out of the ballroom, having landed in the dance-off against Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin.

The semi-finalists gave it their all as they fought for their place in the BBC competition, but unfortunately for dance-off queen Balvinder, her luck ran out.

Balvinder, 47, and Amber, 29, got to choose one of their two Saturday night routines to perform again for the judges.

The EastEnders actress chose her salsa to Gloria Estefan’s Rhythm Is Gonna Get You and Get On Your Feet, while West End star Amber reprised her couple’s choice to Raye’s cover of Fly Me To The Moon, which scored a perfect 40.

In emotional scenes, judges Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, and Anton Du Beke all opted to save Amber.

Craig Revel Horwood, who was assigned the casting vote this weekend, also said he would’ve voted for Amber and her pro partner Nikita.

This means Amber and Nikita join the Strictly final 2025 lineup along with George Clarke and Alexis Warr, and Karen Carney and Carlos Gu. 

When asked by host Tess Daly about her time on the show, Balvinder said: ‘I’ve absolutely adored every single minute. 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.’

Tess then asked Balvinder what the partnership meant and what she had to say to Julian, who joined the pro dancer roster this series.

‘I mean, I have no words, actually,’ she began sweetly. ‘You’ve been brilliant in every sense of the word.

‘When I wobbled, and when I felt really brilliant about the dance and got the steps right, you’ve just held me in your hands, and you’ve gone, “Bal, we’ve got this. It’s just me and you, and we’re gonna do this together.”

‘And we have done every single dance together; I’ve never felt alone on this floor, and I just want you to remember me. Don’t replace me too soon!’

When asked about having Balvinder as his first partner on Strictly, Australian star Julian said: ‘I just think that Bal embodies what this competition is about. Her spirit is unbreakable, and [to Bal] you have shown me that I’m actually dreaming too small, and Bal can inspire us that whatever any of us want in life, all you have to have is the desire to go after it.

‘It took six dance-offs and a perfect score to take this lady out, so I am so, so proud of you!’

As hosting duo Tess and right-hand woman Claudia Winkleman prepare to bow out at the end of the year, Balvinder added: ‘[To the judges] Thank you. Claud and Tess, I’m grateful that I got to be on the show on your last moment here as well, because you, for me, are what Strictly is about. You’re the era of Len Goodman and Bruce Forsyth, and that’s when I started watching it, and that, for me, is really special.

‘This year, it’s been full of so many serendipitous moments. I’m so lucky, and I’m really, very happy.’

Tonight’s results show also included a special celebration of Tess and Claudia, who were shown a highlights package with new interviews from the judges and footage from their early years working with Sir Bruce.

The judges, with help from professional dancer Kai Widdrington, then awarded them with their own golden trophies to mark the end of their reign.

During her Strictly stint, Balvinder managed to break a record, having survived the most dance-offs.

As the panel voted to save her from the bottom two five times, Balvinder surpassed the record set by singer Jamelia and her partner Tristan MacManus in the 2015 series.

Speaking at the start of December as the contest reached its tight end, Balvinder speculated that Strictly viewers hadn’t had chance to ‘catch her vibe’, leading to her failing to secure votes.

The soap star pointed out that people who don’t watch EastEnders ‘know very little about [her]’, adding in an Instagram caption: ‘But we hope you can feel our energy, connect, see who we are & what we represent through our dances which are filled with passion and story.’

Nevertheless, Strictly has been a life-changing experience for Bal, whose mum died last February and to whom she dedicated a dance earlier in the series.

Speaking exclusively to Metro ahead of the semi-final, she said she’s seen herself ‘in a different light’ for ‘the first time’.

‘You watch the dances back, and you go, “Oh my God. One, I look like that. And two, I dance like that – who is that person?”

‘For that reason, it’s such a brilliant place for women to be able to go, “Yeah, we can burst out onto the screen and look as sexy as that, as beautiful as that, and dance like that.”

‘What a feat, you know?’ 

Sadly, Balvinder and Julian are now out of the running for the Glitter Ball trophy, as this year’s final consists of just three pairs due to several injuries and withdrawals from other stars.

But it’s safe to say she’s a winner in the hearts of the nation, with fans taking to social media to express their sadness after her departure.

‘Despite tonight’s result can we all just agree that Balvinder & Julian have been the most special and extraordinary partnership to watch this year. On a series full of twist and turns they have been the bright light that this series has needed so much’, @RyanSoapKing25 wrote on X.

‘Gutted for Balvinder! She’s been fantastic all series’, added @veesvoyages. ‘her resilience after being in the dance off many times is incredible, it would have shaken the confidence of others but she’s come back fighting every time. She should be V proud of herself’.

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