EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal has revealed she initially thought her time in Walford was up when she was called into a surprise meeting with BBC bosses — only to discover it was about Strictly Come Dancing.

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A Frightening Call That Turned Into Glitter and Sequins

Sopal, who has played the formidable Suki Panesar since 2020, admitted she feared the worst when producers unexpectedly requested a meeting.

“I honestly thought they were going to tell me Suki was being killed off,” she confessed. Instead, the conversation was about her potential involvement in Strictly, following an approach from the hit dance competition’s producers.

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Injury Scare Before the Live Shows

After confirming her participation and securing approval from her agent, Sopal threw herself into rehearsals. But her journey almost hit an early setback when she sustained a hip/glute injury on her very first training day.

Thankfully, after a physio assessment confirmed it was only muscle tightness, she was able to continue — determined not to let the setback derail her big chance.

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First Dance on the Strictly Stage

In the opening live show, Balvinder and her professional partner Julian Caillon took to the dancefloor with a lively samba. The performance earned them 17 points from the judges, marking a strong start for the EastEnders star as she swapped the Queen Vic’s drama for Strictly’s sparkle.

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From Walford to the Ballroom

Balvinder Sopal follows in the footsteps of fellow EastEnders alumni who have swapped acting for dancing, including Rose Ayling-Ellis, Maisie Smith and Jake Wood. With her fiery on-screen persona as Suki and her real-life determination, fans are already rooting for her to go far in the competition.