By Jessica Sansome,Tianna Corbin
Copyright dailystar
BBC star Balvinder Sopal has revealed her ‘worry’ as she gears up for her Strictly Come Dancing debut, ready to reveal her true self on the dance floor. On Saturday night, BBC viewers will see the contestants find out their professional partner, along with the return of last year’s champion. The actress, known for her role as the shrewd and relentless businesswoman and mother, Suki Panesar-Unwin in EastEnders since 2020, is feeling a bit jittery about one aspect of Strictly, despite her extensive on-screen experience. “I’m more concerned about the live element,” she confessed. “I haven’t been on stage since 2019. Prior to that, a lot of my work was staged, and so I think I’ve become a little complacent with the screen. “Because you can go for another take, you can pick up a line and all of that kind of stuff, whereas here it’s going to be live and filmed. So it’s a little bit nerve-wracking, actually.” However, Balvinder, 46, is eager to show that she is not her EastEnders character as she steps onto the dance floor in the BBC One dance competition. She told the Manchester Evening News: “I think that’s what’s really key, is that this is a chance for all of us to show who we are at heart. “Particularly with something like EastEnders, four days a week in someone’s living room, people think you are that person and that you respond to every situation with a lifted eyebrow and a snarl.. “And that’s not the case. The [audiences] might be like, ‘How can that person play Suki Panesar-Unwin?'” Balvinder is set to join a star-studded lineup of 14 other celebrities, all vying for the coveted Glitterball Trophy. Among them are Olympic sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, 36, also known as Nitro from BBC’s Gladiators, Love Island’s Dani Dyer, 29, retired footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, 53, and Doctor Who actress Alex Kingston, 62. The competition also includes YouTuber and podcaster George Clarke, 25, pioneering model Ellie Goldstein, 23 – who made history as the first model with Down Syndrome to feature on the cover of British Vogue – and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star La Voix, 45. Joining them on the dance floor will be retired England rugby player Chris Robshaw, 39, The Apprentice 2019 candidate Thomas Skinner, 34, former Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison, 37, and Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis, 66. Rounding off this year’s impressive roster are Lorraine and Good Morning Britain’s Los Angeles Correspondent Ross King, 63, former England women’s football player Karen Carney, 38, and Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope, 30. Cope steps in to replace Game of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn, 49, who had to withdraw from the series due to medical reasons. Strictly Come Dancing begins airing on Saturday, 20 September at 6.40pm on BBC One.
