Balvinder Sopal, the EastEnders actress known for portraying Suki Panesar, has sustained a thigh injury on the second day of Strictly Come Dancing rehearsals, her representatives confirmed. The development comes as the BBC ballroom competition presses toward its launch week, with contestants undergoing intense training ahead of the live shows. Sopal told fans she heard a “pop” while practicing a routine, prompting a precautionary visit to the show’s medical team.
In a social media update, Sopal described the moment she felt something give during a routine and said she would seek medical assessment to understand the cause and extent of the issue. She reassured followers that she could still walk and move, but noted that her left glute and hip felt tight and a little unstable as she prepared to be examined by the production’s medical staff. The admission underscored the physically demanding nature of Strictly’s rehearsals, even for seasoned performers used to the program’s tough training cadence.
Sopal did not shy away from praising the show’s professional dancers, saying she was experiencing the hardest she has ever worked but that the experience has been “brilliant” and deeply rewarding. She lauded the pro dancers for their technique, teaching ability and stamina, calling them “incredible, superhuman, literal gods” and expressing gratitude for the opportunity to train alongside them. After a day off to see physiotherapists, she returned to the studio, sharing a post that she had resumed training and that her hip and glute were only tight rather than seriously affected.
By the third day of rehearsals, Sopal posted that she was back on the floor. “All good. Day three training done! Hip/glute all good – just tight. Thank you for all your messages of love and support. We kept dancing,” she wrote, signaling a positive trajectory as she continued to adapt to the demanding schedule of dance rehearsals as the launch approaches.
The injury news arrives as viewers are reminded of the brutal realities behind the show’s glitzy veneer. Fellow contestant Vicky Pattison has already spotlighted the grueling nature of Strictly training. In her Get A Grip podcast, Pattison shared a series of photos documenting her own injuries, including injuries to her feet that she described as brutal and symptomatic of the rapid pace and intensity of the boot camp-style preparation. Pattison said the deterioration felt sudden, noting that her feet went from feeling normal to “butchered” in a short span and describing how even small missteps on the dance floor can take a heavy toll. The posts and comments from Pattison offered a candid glimpse into the demanding physical regime that participants endure in the run-up to the live shows, reminding audiences that the televised glamour sits atop a strenuous preparation process.
The new season’s launch is set to bring together 15 celebrity contestants, each pairing with a professional dancer for a series that will unfold on BBC One and iPlayer. The two-hour launch episode on a Saturday is slated to feature the formal reveal of the partnerships, followed by group performances and a range of number-led sequences designed to showcase the contestants’ first impressions on the dance floor. The broadcast is scheduled to begin at 6:40 p.m. local time, with the partner reveals framed by surprise-filled sequences that aim to deliver both heartwarming moments and Strictly sparkle to audiences.
Last year’s winners, professional dancer Dianne Buswell and comedian Chris McCausland, are returning to the show in a special moment for the launch. They will reprise the waltz that helped catapult them to a memorable moment of the season, performing for the viewing audience in a sequence that will bookend the announcements of the new couples. The duo’s waltz, performed to You’ll Never Walk Alone, earned a BAFTA TV Memorable Moment Award earlier this year after a fan-voted moment in the semi-finals of Strictly 2024. The push to recapture that magic in the 2025 launch signals the program’s blend of nostalgia and fresh talent.
In addition to the couples’ reveals, the launch episode will feature dazzling group numbers from Strictly’s professional dancers as the new celebrity contestants make their dancefloor debut. The episode’s format continues to hinge on a blend of spectacle and competition, with high expectations from audiences who tune in to witness early chemistry, learning curves, and the signature chemistry that defines Strictly Come Dancing. This season’s dynamic comes as the production emphasizes safety and care for contestants after an escalation in public discussion about the intensity of the training schedule and its physical toll.
As Sopal and the other contestants settle into the rigors of rehearsals, fans are watching closely to see how the cast navigates the balance between rigorous training and performance readiness. The show’s producers have stressed the importance of medical support and physiotherapy access for all participants, and Sopal’s reported experience underscores their ongoing commitment to safety while preserving the show’s competitive energy. With the countdown to the launch well underway, audiences can anticipate a combination of technical growth, personal storytelling, and the hallmark flair that has characterized Strictly Come Dancing since its inception. The convergence of high-profile celebrities, elite professional partners, and a schedule packed with rehearsals and live performances sets the stage for another season of high-stakes dancing, dramatic storylines, and at times painful but teachable moments on the dance floor.