Balvinder Sopal is the fifth celebrity contestant announced for Strictly Come Dancing 2025
Balvinder Sopal is an actor whose career spans theatre, radio, film and television. She is most known for playing the infamous Suki Kaur Panesar (now Unwin) on EastEnders since 2019. As Suki she has been at the heart of some of EastEnders' most gripping and acclaimed storylines, from being part of 'The Six' to her on-off affair with Eve Unwin.
Before EastEnders, Balvinder appeared on many popular TV shows in various guises, including a guest lead in Call The Midwife series seven, Doctors, and Waterloo Road.
More: Strictly Come Dancing 2025 - find out everything you need to know about the new series
Meet the new Professional Dancers joining the Strictly family in 2025
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On joining Strictly Come Dancing, Balvinder Sopal says: 'Being on Strictly is a dream that I held on to, with no proof that it would ever happen. Working on EastEnders and being a part of Strictly Come Dancing is the stuff that dreams are made of. I'm far too excited to put into words how I feel but I'm incredibly excited at the prospect of dancing across the ballroom!'
The news was revealed live from Albert Square on 12 August on ITV's Good Morning Britain and the remaining celebrity contestants joining the new series will be announced in due course.
Meet the Strictly 2025 confirmed celebrity contestants
Strictly Come Dancing is a BBC Studios Entertainment production for BBC One and BBC iPlayer and was commissioned by Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment at the BBC. The Executive Producer is Sarah James, the Series Editors are Nicola Fitzgerald and Jack Gledhill. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Jo Wallace.
Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this autumn. Add Strictly to your watchlist on BBC iPlayer now.
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