Strictly Come Dancing announce EastEnders' Balvinder Sopal as fifth star to join 2025 line-up

Balvinder Sopal has been revealed as the latest contestant for the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing. The actress, 46, has played Suki Panesar-Unwin on the BBC soap EastEnders since 2020 but will now be joining the line-up of this year's edition of the Saturday night favourite.

Speaking to Good Morning Britain's Richard Arnold live from the set of Albert Square on Tuesday, she said: "I have danced before, I dabbled a little bit. I did Latin and ballroom as a hobby. And I think when you've got a passion for it, you'll naturally enjoy it.

"I don't know if I'll be any good but I'll enjoy it! I love the Latin, I think they're just exciting and passionate dancers, aren't they? It's the drama, isn't it? We all love the drama!

"It's about telling the story with your body, with your feet. So I won't have to learn any lines, which will be great! But it'll be like learning a new language, I think." It comes after Strictly Come Dancing's Gorka Marquez pulls out of show.

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The soap star, who doesn't know who her professional partner will be yet, confirmed that she will be remaining in her role on EastEnders as the competition gets underway as she added: "I'll still be working here so I'll be doing two jobs. I don't know how I'm going to handle it. I don't know what's gonna happen but I'm looking forward to it."

Olympic sprinter and Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey was the first contestant confirmed for the 2025 line-up earlier on Monday. Harry, known as Nitro on the rebooted Gladiators, previously competed in last year’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special and described his decision to return as "so nice I just had to do it twice".

Dani Dyer, Alex Kingston and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink were then announced as the latest recruits for the upcoming season live on BBC One’s The One Show later the same day.

Speaking from the studio after her reveal, former Love Island winner Dani said: "It’s such a fun magical show – to be asked to do it is such an honour. I just can’t wait to be able to wear (the costumes) – it’s going to be so much fun."

Actress Alex, who interrupted her holiday in Italy to speak to hosts Alex Scott and Roman Kemp, joked: "I was super excited but now I’m terrified."

She was best known for her role as Dr Elizabeth Corday in US medical drama ER but also appeared in Doctor Who. Before ER she won over British fans for her performance in ITV miniseries The Fortunes And Misfortunes Of Moll Flanders, which earned her a Bafta nomination for best actress.

Former Chelsea footballer Jimmy said: "I’m a father of only girls and Strictly is a part of our home life – I like the show. Let’s have a go. It’s totally out of my comfort zone. Playing football in front of 60,000 or 70,000 people is easy but dancing with a partner who knows it 10 times, 100 times, better than you is crazy."

Jimmy also teased the idea that he might be bringing a few of his former footballing friends along to watch live. "I’m in contact with Robbie (Fowler), with Carlo Cudicini, so who knows," he said.

In July, the BBC announced that two "incredible" new professional dancers, US-born Alexis Warr and Australian dancer Julian Caillon, would be joining the show, which starts this autumn.

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are back to present with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas returning as judges.

Strictly will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer for its new series this September.

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