Strictly's Balvinder Sopal reveals future on EastEnders due to training schedule

Balvinder Sopalhas revealed the impact Strictly Come Dancing will have on her EastEnders role. The actress, 46, stars as Suki Panesar on the BBC soap but is heading to the dancefloor in September to compete on the nation's favourite dancing programme alongside celebrities such as Neighbours actor Stefan Dennis, Geordie Shore legend Vicky Pattison and Love Island's Dani Dyer amongst a host of others.

But taking part in the gruelling series has meant that she will have to work at EastEnders on a 'reduced' basis, meaning that fans of the London-based serial will see less of the Walford favourite as the competition progresses.

She said: "It will be a sort of reduced schedule, but I am working there. And actually, I quite like the idea that I get to do both. Strictly and EastEnders have a really great relationship. We always have somebody from the show on Strictly, so they're very mindful." Other stars from the soap to have competed on the show over the years include Jamie Borthwick, Bobby Brazier and Rose Ayling-Ellis, who won the programme in 2021.

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The TV star, who also made appearances in Emmerdale, Coronation Street and Hollyoaksbefore landing her now-signature role on EastEnders, also admitted that she is something of a perfectionist with her work, so fully expects that she will be the first one to 'scrutinise' herself before judges Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke and Motsi Mabuse even get the chance to offer up their feedback.

Speaking to Radio Times, she added: "I think the scrutiny will come from me first before anybody else. Even when I get my lines, I'm like, 'Why this word? Why not that word? OK, I've got to make this work!"

Since joining EastEnders in 2019, Suki has been at the heart of some of the show's most gripping and critically acclaimed storylines, including her involvement with 'The Six' and her marriage to Eve Unwin (Heather Peace), which made them the first lesbian couple to wed on the show.

In August, Balvinder took to social media to share her excitement at joining the Strictly lineup. At the time, she wrote on Instagram: "A dream 21 years in the making from when I first asked my agent to ask @bbcstrictly if I could be on the show. Never did I ever think it would happen".

"And now.... since the announcement, my feet haven't touched the ground. And we haven't even started properly. Yesterday was a big day; our first day meeting and greeting the Strictly Team, the other brilliant and talented contestants, and of course, the PROS."

"@bbceastenders - simply THANK YOU for allowing this to happen, @bbcstrictly THANK YOU for asking me. And thank you to every single one of you whom have sent messages of love and support, and shared in my absolute delight and excitement of this wonderful opportunity."

Balvinder concluded her post: "It's going to be tough, but I know one thing for sure, I am going to savour every single second of my journey on Strictly Come Dancing. Come, let's dance."

The actress was the fifth celebrity to be announced, explaining to Good Morning Britain's Richard Arnold live from the set of Albert Square at the time: "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."

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