Strictly star set for disappointment after surviving show dance-offs

Balvinder Sopal faces potential disappointment as she is currently the bookies' favourite to depart Strictly this weekend.

The EastEnders actress and her professional partner Julian Caillon have survived the dreaded dance-off twice already. However, according to bookmaker Ladbrokes, their journey on the BBC ballroom competition may be coming to an end, with Balvinder odds-on to become the fifth contestant to leave the dance floor.

Priced at just 4/5, Balvinder is the clear favourite for elimination. RuPaul's Drag Race UK star La Voix is the only other celebrity with odds shorter than 5/1 for the chop at 11/4.

Cal Gildart of Ladbrokes said: "She's survived a few dance-offs already, but the current odds mean it looks like it's the end of the road for Balvinder Sopal on Strictly."

Balvinder and Julian, who joined the professional line-up on the programme this year, have successfully avoided elimination in two dance-offs thus far, defeating Ross King and Jowita Przystal before overcoming Chris Robshaw and Nadiya Bychkova, reports Wales Online.

Last week the duo achieved a respectable 28 out of 40 for their Quickstep from Shirley Ballas and colleagues.

However, with several couples achieving the same score, their progression to this week remained uncertain as the results programme aired on Sunday (October 26).

Balvinder, who is best known for portraying Albert Square's Suki Panesar, appeared stunned as her name was announced and she realised she had made it through. When questioned about her message to the public, she expressed: "I think first of all, I want to say thank you to every single person that voted for us."

As Julian embraced her, she continued: "I didn't think we were going to be here.

"When they called our names out, I was a little bit like, 'There's been a mistake.' But I mean, wow. Thank you."

In other news, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey - also known as Nitro from Gladiators - is currently at odds of 5/1 to be given his marching orders this weekend, while former Love Island star Amber Davies stands at odds of 8/1 to face elimination.

Strictly Come Dancing airs on BBC One.