The Strictly Come Dancing semi-final saw one more star miss out on the chance to lift the glitterball trophy.
During tonight’s (December 14) Strictly Come Dancing results show, another pair was eliminated from the competition ahead of the Grand Final.
The latest Strictly star to be voted out was 47-year-old EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal, alongside her dance partner Julian Caillon. The semi-final results show saw Balvinder and Julian compete against Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin in the dance-off.
Both couples repeated their routines from late night, with Balvinder and Julian dancing the Salsa to Rhythm Is Gonna Get You/Get On Your Feet by Gloria Estefan. Meanwhile, Amber and Nikita performed their highly-praised Couple’s Choice dance to RAYE’s Fly Me to the Moon.
After both dances, the judges delivered their verdicts, with Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke all choosing to save Amber and Nikita. Craig Revel Horwood, who had the casting vote this week, also decided to save Amber and Nikita.
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Taking to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, Strictly fans shared their reaction to the semi-final result.
One person lamented: “Poor bal, she deserved to make it to the final, i’m gutted for her. the bond her and julian built up was so beautiful to watch as well.”
“Well that’s two weeks in a row that the judges have screwed up a decision,” a second person penned, as another complained: “The judges completely and utterly missing the mood of the public vote.”
However, another person pointed out: “Poor Bal. She so deserved to stay, but please don’t give Amber Davies grief, she is an exceptional dancer after all.”
Others shared their support for Amber, saying: “If anyone was going to beat bal in the dance off i’m so glad it was amber. she’s just wonderful and deserves so much better than how she’s been treated and i’m thrilled to see her in the final.”
Another wrote: “Right result. Amber didn’t deserve to be in the dance off.”
Speaking about her time on the show, Balvinder told host Tess Daly: “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.”
She also praised her partner Julian, saying: “I mean, I have no words, actually. 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!”
Asked about having Balvinder as his first partner on Strictly, Julian gushed: “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!”
This means that the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 finalists are Amber and Nikita, George Clarke and Alexis Warr, and Karen Carney and Carlos Gu. The Strictly Come Dancing 2025 Grand Final airs on Saturday at 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
