Strictly Come Dancing’s 2025 grand final line-up has been confirmed after EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal was voted out at the semi-final stage, leaving just three celebrities battling it out for the coveted Glitterball trophy.
Balvinder, 47, and her professional partner Julian Callion found themselves in the dance-off for a record-breaking sixth time, facing reality TV star Amber Davies and her partner Nikita Kuzmin. Despite delivering a spirited salsa to Gloria Estefan’s Rhythm Is Gonna Get You and Get On Your Feet, the judges unanimously chose to save Amber and Nikita after they reprised their Couple’s Choice routine.
As her Strictly journey came to an end, Balvinder reflected emotionally on her experience, describing the show as “like a massive hug” every time she walked through the doors. She said everyone had been incredibly supportive, often reassuring her that she was “all right” during difficult weeks.
She also paid a heartfelt tribute to hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, telling them she felt grateful to be part of their final chapter on the show. For Balvinder, Tess and Claudia represented the era of Len Goodman and Sir Bruce Forsyth — the Strictly she fell in love with when she first started watching — making this season feel especially meaningful.
With Balvinder’s exit confirmed, Amber Davies will now face England Lionesses footballer Karen Carney and social media star George Clarke in next weekend’s live final. Karen made Strictly history by becoming the first footballer to reach the final, after topping the semi-final leaderboard with a joint score of 78.
The results show also delivered a surprise emotional moment for Tess and Claudia ahead of their departure following this year’s Christmas special. A montage celebrating their Strictly journey was shown, featuring tributes from the judges and unseen footage from their early years alongside Sir Bruce Forsyth. The pair were then presented with their very own glitterball trophy.
While online predictions and AI tools have controversially suggested Karen Carney could take the title, bookmakers remain divided, with Karen and George neck-and-neck as favourites and Amber trailing behind as the outsider. The Strictly Come Dancing 2025 final will air live next Saturday at 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer
