Strictly’s Balvinder Sopal makes triumphant return to the dancefloor as she kicks off semi-finals with sizzling salsa after landing in dance off five times

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Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon started Saturday night’s Strictly Come Dancing semi-finals with an energetic and exciting salsa performance.

The 47-year-old actress and her 30-year-old dance partner performed an energetic routine to Gloria Estefan’s song “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” impressing the audience.

The duo received a score of 35 out of 40 from the judges – Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke – a very strong result.

Oh my gosh, you would NOT believe it! Balvinder was absolutely beaming when she walked back into the ballroom! Seriously, five times she faced elimination, five times she survived the dance-off! It was incredible to witness, she was just glowing with relief and happiness!

Following their performance, the judges were full of praise for the EastEnders star. 

Judge Shirley, 65, praised the performance, calling it ‘fantastic’ and highlighting its genuineness and precision.

Anton, 59, was impressed, saying, “That’s a fantastic start! You’ve really set a high standard – it’s going to be tough to top that!”

Craig, age 60, commented that the performance had some uneven moments, but praised the dancer’s ability to control their movements and maintain a great sense of rhythm. He felt the dancer put everything they had into the performance.

Following reports that BBC executives have created a list of ten potential presenters, the search is on for new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing, replacing Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly.

Claudia, 53, and Tess, 56, are leaving the show after this season, but finding replacements won’t be simple.

Sources say the show’s potential contestants will participate in challenges where they switch partners, helping producers determine which couples have the best on-screen connection. BBC officials are hoping to find a truly captivating pairing.

Bradley Walsh, Alex Jones, and Alan Carr are the leading candidates to take on the role, with Alan Carr, age 49, currently considered the favorite.

The ten actors who made the shortlist will all appear together in a project to see which pairings have the most chemistry.

According to a source speaking to The Sun, finding replacements for Claudia and Tess is a huge challenge, but the BBC has narrowed down the potential candidates to a shortlist of ten.

In addition to Bradley, Alex, and Alan, Rylan Clark, Rob Rinder, Zoe Ball, and Holly Willoughby will also be attending the chemistry day.

‘Amanda Holden, Alison Hammond, and Angela Scanlon have made the cut too.’ 

According to a source, the celebrities will be brought to a studio and paired up with each other to determine which combinations have the best chemistry on camera.

Contestants on the show can be paired as two women, two men, or one of each. Show officials are hoping to create fresh and unique pairings this season.

Fresh from his win on Celebrity Traitors last month, Alan is believed to be in pole position. 

His comedy tour planned for 2027 across the country might conflict with the filming schedule for Strictly, which could cause problems.

Sources say that if Alan does well in the chemistry tests and is a finalist for the job, he’s expected to accept the presenting role.

Daily Mail has contacted BBC for comment. 

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2025-12-13 22:05