Strictly Come Dancing has announced another celebrity for the class of 2025 and this time it's someone from the world of soaps.
EastEnders actor Balvinder Sopal is the fifth contestant to be confirmed for the upcoming series of the hit BBC dance competition.
The exciting news was announced live on ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Tuesday morning, with a special broadcast from the Albert Square set.
Sopal has played Suki Panesar-Unwin on EastEnders since 2019, but viewers may also recognise her from appearances on Call the Midwife, Doctors, and Waterloo Road.
Sharing her excitement to be joining the cast of Strictly, Sopal said: “Being on Strictly is a dream that I held on to, with no proof that it would ever happen.
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"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!”
Sopal will join Doctor Who and ER star Alex Kingston in the 2025 Strictly line-up.
Two famous faces from the world of sport have also been confirmed in the cast: footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Olympian-turned-Gladiator-star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey.
Representing the world of reality TV, former Love Island star Dani Dyer is also set to compete in the 2025 Strictly series.
More celebrities contestants are set to be announced in the coming days, ahead of Strictly's return to screens this autumn.
Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturdays on BBC One, while spin-off Strictly: It Takes Two airs on weeknights on BBC Two. Both shows are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
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News Editor, Digital Spy
Emma is an experienced entertainment news journalist with NCTJ accreditation and a First-Class Honours Degree in Journalism. Having started her career as a broadcast journalist, Emma’s voice has been heard on varying radio stations across the UK including Absolute, Magic, BBC Three Counties Radio, LBC London News and more.
Later specialising in multimedia entertainment news, Emma has brushed shoulders with numerous famous faces and interviewed the likes of Edward Norton, Margot Robbie, Sir Michael Palin, Rick Astley, and too many soap stars to count. Having produced a range of engaging news content over the years for brands such as 7Digital’s Entertainment News, Yahoo, and Express Online, Emma eventually joined Digital Spy in 2022 as Deputy News Editor, becoming Acting News Editor in 2023 and then News Editor in 2024.
While she’s gained lots of praise during celebrity interviews throughout her career, the most memorable compliment Emma’s ever received was when a Game of Thrones star remarked "Your teeth are stunning!". LinkedIn
