Actress Balvinder Sopal, well-known from EastEnders, is now confirmed to be one of the five celebrities taking part in Strictly Come Dancing for the year 2025.
On Tuesday morning, it was unveiled during a live broadcast on Good Morning Britain that the actress, aged 46 and known for her role as Suki Panesar in the BBC soap opera, was participating.
Balvinder is set to dance alongside a Love Island champion, a popular Doctor Who actor, and a renowned football great – these three celebrities were just announced as the most recent additions to this season’s Strictly lineup.
Expressing her delight about being involved in the show, Balvinder shared: “Joining Strictly has been a long-held dream of mine, one for which I had little evidence it would become reality.
Working on EastEnders and participating in Strictly Come Dancing feels like living a dream come true! Words can’t quite capture my excitement, but let me tell you, I’m absolutely thrilled about the possibility of dancing my way through the ballroom.
This year, Dani Dyer (age 29), Alex Kingston (age 62), and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (age 53), a sportsman, are set to perform on the dance floor, as announced on Monday night by The One Show.
The group is led by Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, known for his roles in Olympian and Gladiators, who became the initial high-profile individual unveiled today.
In 2018, Dani Dyer, the daughter of renowned actor Danny Dyer, gained popularity after winning a £50,000 prize on the ITV2 dating show, where she was paired with Jack Fincham. This year, she also got married to her husband Jarrod Bowen.
As a die-hard fan, let me tell you, dancing on Strictly has been the absolute highlight of my year – right next to discovering my favorite flavor of ice cream! It’s an experience I’ll cherish forever.
‘I feel very very blessed and cannot wait to get my dancing shoes on.’
Doctor Who’s Alex notably appeared in US drama ER from 1997 to 2005 alongside George Clooney.
In addition, she frequently appeared as River Song in the series Doctor Who. River Song is a character who developed a romantic relationship with Matt Smith’s portrayal of The Doctor, and it was also revealed that she was the daughter of Amy Pond, played by Karen Gillan, and Rory Williams, portrayed by Arthur Darvill.
During Peter Capaldi’s tenure on the BBC science fiction series, Alex briefly returned to her character. Additionally, she has lent her voice to various audio editions within the franchise.
Previously, Alex expressed her interest in joining Strictly Come Dancing. She mentioned that she had talked about this with her good friend Sarah Hadland, who participated in the competition last year.
In 2019, Sarah Hadland mentioned that we both expressed our enthusiasm for participating in Strictly Come Dancing, according to her.
After that, I found out she’s a professional ballerina. But wait a second! That’s unfair! So, during her season, I can’t compete with her!
The actress hinted playfully to hosts Roman Kemp and Alex Scott about her upcoming role by saying: “My actions won’t deceive.
In simpler terms, the former Chelsea and Netherlands striker, who also coached England, expressed enthusiasm for what’s ahead.
As a die-hard enthusiast, I must confess that trading the lush green pitch for the polished ballroom has never been on my agenda. However, the thrill of embracing an exciting new challenge has me brimming with anticipation!
‘Bring on a new type of footwork, with hopefully no own goals.’
For about two decades, the man who is a father of four had a professional career playing for both Leeds and Middlesbrough, until he decided to retire in 2008.
In a surprising turn of events, it was Harry, famously recognized as Nitro, who emerged as the initial celebrity participant in the upcoming series. Following his appearance in the previous year’s Christmas Special, he has now joined the lineup.
The fact that he was participating became clear to viewers of CBBC Newsround during a prank, as the BBC initially stated that the initial stars joining the event would only be announced later in the day.
In a surprising turn of events, at the age of 36, Harry, renowned for his role in Gladiators: Epic Pranks, decided to make an appearance in the Newsround studio under a different persona – that of the well-known choreographer Nicky Trott. The purpose of this visit was to discuss his latest project, which involves a scientific study exploring the advantages associated with dancing.
Despite his disguise, Newsround presenter Jenny Lawrence wasn’t deceived; she swiftly figured out who he was truly conversing with.
Afterward, Harry revealed the genuine purpose of his visit: he wanted to announce his participation in the upcoming season of Strictly Come Dancing.
Harry is an Olympian, multi gold medal-winning Team GB sprinter, and star of Gladiators.
Since childhood, he’s been a top-tier sprinter in the UK, achieving a unique feat by winning gold medals for both the 100 and 200 meters at the World Youth Championships. At just 17 years old, he also claimed the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award in 2005.
Harry secured a gold medal in the 4x100m relay at both the European Championships and the Commonwealth Games.
He’s participated in two Olympic Games and holds the title of three-time European Champion, as well as being victorious twice at the Commonwealth Games.
2023 saw Harry debuting as character “Nitro” on the popular BBC show, Gladiators. Previously, he danced alongside Nancy Xu during the 2022 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special.
Upon participating in Strictly Come Dancing following the Christmas Special, Harry expressed his enthusiasm by saying: “I enjoyed it so much that I had to do it again! I’m thrilled to be a part of the Strictly family during this season and I’m eager to put my all into it.
“I’ll be brimming with enthusiasm to set the dance floor ablaze! Here’s hoping my agility in learning the moves matches my speed on the track.
It was mentioned on Sunday that Natalie Imbruglia and Delta Goodrem are discussing potential involvement in the upcoming show.
A recently released report indicates that negotiations are ongoing for two well-known Australian actors to make an appearance, and it’s rumored that yet another ex-Neighbours star, Stefan Dennis, is a potential contender as well.
As an over-the-moon enthusiast, I’ve got some exhilarating news to share! From what I’ve heard through the grapevine, negotiations are reaching a crucial stage for two of my favorite celebrities. The potential outcomes could take several interesting turns, but if they both decide to join forces with our beloved show, it would be nothing short of a major triumph! Can you imagine the excitement? 🤩
Delta and Natalie are expected to add a touch of elegance to the show, making them highly anticipated contenders for this year.
If the three ex-Neighbours actors perform on Strictly Come Dancing, the stage could resemble Ramsay Street more closely.
In the run-up to its comeback, Strictly’s latest series has been embroiled in a sequence of scandals. Among these controversies is the disclosure that the broadcasting company engaged a legal team to investigate claims of drug use by two individuals.
Among the celebrities under investigation for drug-related issues, suspicions arose regarding one of them due to allegations of consuming alcohol during work hours on the set. Crew members reportedly detected an alcohol odor emanating from this individual’s breath.
It’s been reported that an unnamed pair were accused of using a powerful drug, and it’s also mentioned that one of them is known for their heavy drinking habits, particularly in the context of Strictly Come Dancing performances.
Now, it has been reported by publications that last year’s event required junior team members to monitor senior colleagues, specifically looking out for potential instances of drinking on the job.
Over the weekend, a staffer also claimed they were offered cocaine by one of the show’s stars.
He shared with The Sun that the primary post-filming celebrations occur at Elstree. Partying, drinking, and drug use often continue until 3 am, occasionally extending to 4 am. The smoking zone outside is bustling with activity. It’s also mentioned that cocaine is used in this area.
It was stated by him that the use of drugs was widespread on the show, such that when he discovered a questionable bag of white powder, a nonchalant senior producer instructed him to put it on their desk, with the occurrence not causing even a raised eyebrow.
Additionally, the team member noted that the yearly special episode of the show, which was filmed at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom, was a particularly lively and extravagant event filled with merriment and revelry.
At an after-show gathering, a celebrity propositioned me with cocaine. As the night progressed, numerous individuals decided to return to the hotel. The party was exclusively for the cast and crew, secluded from the general public. It continued well into the early hours of the morning, even lasting until 6am – it was absolutely wild! The energy was palpable, evident in everyone’s eyes.
According to a BBC representative, we have established procedures and guidelines to handle any significant complaints directed towards us. We strongly urge individuals with concerns to reach out to us directly. However, it would not be fitting for us to make additional comments on the matter.
Amidst a prolonged period of debates, startling accusations have emerged concerning the BBC and Strictly, during the last year and a bit.
Approximately seven months ago, following her departure from the show due to personal matters, actress Amanda Abbington alleged that professional dancer Giovanni Pernice exhibited behavior that was unnecessary, harsh, and unkind towards her during their partnership on Strictly.
Immediately, Giovanni dismissed the assertions, and an investigation conducted by the BBC in September determined that there was no evidence supporting her accusations of physical violence and intimidating actions.
In their report regarding Giovanni’s conduct, the leaders at BBC found him not guilty of the gravest accusations related to physical violence. However, they did validate claims of verbal abuse and harassment instead.
After receiving complaints about verbal mistreatment and harassment, the BBC offered an apology to Amanda. However, Giovanni expressed satisfaction that the report did not discover any signs of aggressive or intimidating actions towards him.
In another location, the show faced turmoil when Welsh opera singer Wynne Evans made a questionable joke while getting ready for the Strictly tour in January.
During the performance, he employed an implied sexual reference, and there was also an occurrence where his hand appeared to wander towards Katya Jones during their dance routine on the show. It seems that she moved his arm away from her lower waist at one point.
As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but feel a pang of disappointment when I reflect on the news that following the BBC’s probe into his behavior, those in charge chose not to extend his radio contract for his cherished program.
In simple terms, the TV personality announced in May that their one-year contract, which could be extended month by month, would not be renewed. This decision was made after a thorough four-month examination following some inappropriate remarks they made while participating in Strictly.
In other news regarding BBC scandals, most recently, Gregg Wallace was let go from MasterChef due to over 40 allegations against him being confirmed following an internal BBC inquiry.
Despite the fact that John Torode, his fellow actor, was dismissed following accusations of using a racially insensitive slur (the N-word), he maintains that he cannot remember ever having done so.
It has been reported more recently that Naga Munchetty might be under investigation by the BBC management following allegations of bullying towards a less experienced coworker.
According to The Sun, the presenter of BBC Breakfast, aged 50, is currently under review by management as they contemplate progressing multiple complaints into a formal investigation.
According to a source, superiors were informed by multiple coworkers about her challenging and aggressive conduct on the morning program, as well as her Radio 5 Live broadcast.
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2025-08-12 09:51