Strictly Come Dancing's Balvinder Sopal rushed to medics with painful injury

Strictly Come Dancing contestant Balvinder Sopal was rushed to medics after suffering an injury during rehearsals for the BBC dance show, days before its due to launch.

The EastEnders actress, 46, is due to take to the dancefloor for the BBC show, which launches this weekend, though has now revealed she sustained a medical mishap after she heard “something popped” as she practised for the programme. Speaking in a video posted to Instagram, she said: “So it's the second day of training and I'm at physio. Something popped and I'm here to find out what exactly.

“I'm fine, everything is okay. I can still walk and still move but my left glute, my left hip is feeling a little tight and uneasy, so I'm going to get someone to look at it.”

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EastEnders star Balvinder – who is best known for playing Suki Panesar on the BBC soap – added her stint on Strictly Come Dancing is “the hardest [she] thinks [she’s] ever worked”.

She continued: “I can't tell you, this is the hardest I think I've ever worked. The pros are incredible, superhuman, literal gods honestly. The way they move, the way they teach you it's just brilliant and I'm loving every single second of it.

“But I'm just going to get checked out by the physio. I hope they go easy on me. But yeah, second day training.”

Balvinder has since confirmed she is back in training, and is feeling “all good”. She shared a snap of herself in rehearsals and captioned the post: “Day three training done!

“Hip/glute all good - just tight. Thank you for all your messages of love and support. We kept dancing (sic).”

Balvinder is just one of many famous faces due to compete in the new series of Strictly Come Dancing - which is due to air on Saturday (20.09.25) on BBC One at 6:40 pm - and will be joined by the likes of Dani Dyer, Chris Robshaw, Thomas Skinner Ross King and Vicky Pattison.

Looking to her time on the show, Balvinder said “being on Strictly is a dream that [she] held on to, with no proof that it would ever happen”.

She told the BBC: “Working on EastEnders and being a part of Strictly Come Dancing is the stuff that dreams are made of.

“I’m far too excited to put into words how I feel but I’m incredibly excited at the prospect of dancing across the ballroom!”

The actress isn't the only star to have sustained an injury since rehearsals for the popular dance show began. Vicky Pattison last week showed off her painful injury in a reel of photos shared to her Instagram, with the caption "Strictly BTS".

Sharing a snap of her painful toe blister, Vicky also opened up on her Instagram account about the ups and downs of her rehearsal week. She penned in the caption: "It's been a WEEK let me tell you lads!

"I've laughed, cried and been strictlified. But I already feel like I've made friends for life with all my gorgeous dancers, not to mention the pros and the fabulous crew! It certainly is a juggernaut and I'm so honoured to be a part of this years show... even if it means I'll have no skin at all left on my feet soon.

She signed off: "Love you all and Thankyou for your continued kind and supportive words... they mean so much!!! Not long now."

The first episode of the new series of Strictly Come Dancing has already been recorded and will air on Saturday, September 20 on BBC One.

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