Balvinder Sopal Narrowly Avoids Elimination Again as Bookies React to Week 7’s Strictly Come Dancing Results

EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal and her professional partner Julian Caillon once again found themselves in the Strictly Come Dancing bottom two this weekend (November 2), marking the third time the pair have faced the dreaded dance-off.

Despite the mounting pressure, Balvinder managed to keep her spirits high, chuckling as host Tess Daly announced that she would have to dance again. This time, she was up against model and actress Ellie Goldstein, who became the fifth celebrity to be eliminated from the competition.

After both couples reprised their routines, all four judges — Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke, and Craig Revel Horwood — chose to save Balvinder, praising her growing confidence and consistency on the dance floor. “You can really see her fighting spirit come through,” Ballas commented during the live results show (source: BBC).

Balvinder’s Odds to Leave Next — But Bookies Say “Don’t Count Her Out”

Following her latest brush with elimination, bookmakers are divided over Balvinder’s chances of surviving another week. Speaking on behalf of SportsCastingUK, spokesperson Shane Orton told Entertainment Daily:

“Week 7’s elimination has traders torn, with a three-way battle emerging between Balvinder, Harry, and La Voix. Balvinder and Julian are starting to become survivors, having successfully won three dance-offs. They remain favourites to be eliminated, but you can’t count them out just yet.”

According to the latest odds, Balvinder is currently 10/11 favourite to exit the competition next weekend (November 9). However, Strictly Come Dancing has been known for its unpredictable results. As Metro UK noted, “Even frontrunners can land in the bottom two when audience votes waver” (source: Metro).

Meanwhile, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey — who scored lowest last week after a small stumble during his American Smooth with Karen Hauer — sits at 7/4 to be eliminated next. Drag performer La Voix, who delivered a fiery Paso Doble with Aljaž Škorjanec, follows at 7/2.

“The Paso showed real improvement from La Voix,” Orton added. “There’s still a sense that she and Aljaž have more to give after their tough start to the season.”

George Clarke Holds Firm as Favourite to Win the Glitterball

Away from the elimination drama, the battle for the Glitterball Trophy remains just as fierce. Influencer George Clarke continues to hold the top spot as the 6/4 favourite to win, alongside his professional partner Alexis Warr. Despite some online criticism of their Halloween performance, The Guardian described their partnership as “polished, charismatic, and technically strong — a duo made for prime-time success” (source: The Guardian).

Close behind is actor Lewis Cope, whose Couple’s Choice routine earned the first perfect 40 of the season, boosting his odds to 2/1. Alex Kingston remains third favourite at 4/1, while Vicky Pattison (8/1) and Karen Carney (12/1) round out the top five.

At the other end of the leaderboard, Amber Davies (28/1), La Voix (50/1), Harry (80/1), and Balvinder (150/1) are considered long shots to lift the Glitterball — but with recent weeks proving full of surprises, nothing is certain.

“The Competition Is Wide Open,” Say Insiders

Shane Orton concluded:

“After Lewis and Katya’s flawless performance, they’ve surged into second place behind George and Alexis. The standard across the entire cast has been phenomenal — particularly after Halloween week, which saw major comebacks from earlier frontrunners like Karen and Carlos. If trends continue, we could see a major shake-up at the top before next week’s show.”

With viewer votes becoming increasingly unpredictable and the judges’ scores tightening, Strictly Come Dancing 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most competitive seasons yet. As BBC News entertainment correspondent Emma Saunders wrote, “The magic of Strictly lies in its uncertainty — no one is truly safe until the Glitterball is raised.” (source: BBC News).