Spoiler for the movie From Walford to the Waltz

Every soap fan knows that when a call comes from the boss, it rarely brings good news. And for Balvinder Sopal, the woman behind EastEnders’ most complex and enigmatic character, Suki Panesar, that moment nearly felt like the end. She was away on a spa break when the unexpected news came through: EastEnders executive producer Ben Wadey wanted to speak to her urgently before his holiday.

Her heart plummeted. In the world of Walford, an out-of-the-blue meeting is usually a death knell — or at the very least, a final curtain call. Balvinder braced herself for the worst, convinced her time as Suki was about to be cut short.

“I thought, oh no, this is it,” she later admitted, recalling how her chest tightened with dread. Even when Ben began the conversation by praising her layered, searing work as Suki, she still waited for the dreaded words — “we’re writing you out.” But instead, she was blindsided by an entirely different proposition: Strictly Come Dancing wanted her.

Her answer was instantaneous. Before Ben had even finished the sentence, she leapt in with: “Yes, yes, yes!” It wasn’t just relief, it was joy. Relief that Suki wasn’t being killed off. Joy that her next stage would be something unexpected, dazzling, and terrifying in equal measure.

For fans, it’s a gift too. Since 2020, Balvinder has breathed life into Suki, taking her through some of the soap’s darkest and most twisted chapters. Over the past year alone, Suki endured ordeals that would break anyone: being hurled off a balcony by her controlling husband Nish, uncovering that he had poisoned her lover Eve, and grappling with the desperation of persuading Avani to keep her baby so she herself could raise it.

Each twist left Suki increasingly isolated. Her family turned their backs. Her heart was shattered. Yet Balvinder’s performance never allowed her to collapse into caricature. She found the small tremors of fear behind the iron facade, showing viewers a woman equal parts manipulative and broken, cruel and fragile. It is that duality that made Suki Panesar unforgettable — and Balvinder a star.

Now, though, the actress finds herself on an entirely different stage. No murder cover-ups, no vicious confrontations, no whispered secrets in the Queen Vic. Instead, she must tell her story with rhythm, movement, and silence. She’s been paired with Strictly newcomer Julian Caillon, a professional bursting with energy and creativity. For Balvinder, this is as much an act of courage as any scene she’s filmed in Walford.

“I get butterflies every time I think about it,” she admitted. But those butterflies haven’t stopped her. Instead, they’re fueling her. The woman who has mastered delivering razor-sharp dialogue as Suki now faces the challenge of speaking with her body. “It’s about telling the story with your feet, with your body, and not speaking,” she explained.

This vulnerability is what makes her Strictly journey different from most. Despite decades of acting, she admits openly that she doesn’t know if she’ll be any good at dancing. There’s no guarantee of brilliance, no soap-script safety net — only risk, sweat, and a ballroom floor that shows no mercy.

And yet, that’s exactly why her arc on Strictly is so compelling. It isn’t about perfection. It’s about transformation. Viewers will see someone who has embodied control, manipulation, and icy composure as Suki, now stepping into a world that demands laughter, surrender, and openness. The contrast alone makes it cinematic.

Her debut week on the show proved she’s here to fight. Balvinder and Julian’s samba to KC and the Sunshine Band’s Shake Your Booty wasn’t flawless, but it was vibrant, fun, and determined. They scored 17 points — not headline-making, but a respectable start for a soap star with no dance background. More importantly, it revealed her willingness to throw herself in wholeheartedly, glitter and all.

But the real test lies ahead. Week two brings a Charleston to Meghan Trainor and T-Pain’s Been Like This. It’s a routine that could showcase her playful, cheeky side — the polar opposite of Suki’s icy, calculating persona. For audiences used to seeing Balvinder radiate cold command, the chance to watch her beam, laugh, and swing through a lighthearted dance is pure joy.

That joy, however, doesn’t erase the pressure. Strictly is not just about entertainment — it’s about endurance. Weeks of training, rehearsals, bruises, and constant scrutiny can break even the most determined contestants. Balvinder knows this, but she isn’t afraid. She’s spent years carrying the emotional weight of Suki’s darkest storylines. Now, she’s choosing to carry sequins instead.

What makes her story on Strictly resonate isn’t just the sparkle or the scores. It’s the rawness underneath. Balvinder is stepping into the ballroom not as a soap queen, not as a master of monologues, but as herself — vulnerable, unpolished, and determined to grow. That leap of faith is what makes her one to watch this series.

And perhaps the most exciting part? Strictly gives fans the chance to meet the woman behind Suki. Off-screen, Balvinder is warm, witty, and full of humour — qualities often hidden under her character’s steely exterior. If those traits come alive on the dancefloor, audiences may fall in love with her all over again, this time not for playing a master manipulator, but for being her authentic self.

Still, a big question looms: can grit and survival skills honed in Walford translate into the ballroom? Soap storylines may be scripted, but Strictly is ruthless reality. Success depends on stamina, timing, and the ability to connect with the audience in an entirely new way.

What we do know is this: Balvinder Sopal isn’t one to back down from a fight. Just as Suki clawed her way through betrayal, violence, and loneliness, Balvinder will take on every dance with that same fire. Whether she glides to victory or stumbles under the glitterball spotlight, her journey will be unforgettable.

Spoiler Verdict: From Walford to the Waltz is not a story of endings, but of reinvention. Balvinder Sopal leaves behind Suki’s shadows for Strictly’s spotlight, stepping into a challenge that terrifies her — and that’s exactly why it matters. Expect missteps, laughter, grit, and the possibility of seeing a woman long defined by a role finally shine as herself. And in true Walford fashion, don’t rule out a twist: after all, every good performance hides a secret, and Balvinder may just have a few more surprises tucked beneath those sequins.