Fans of the BBC dance show spotted a sad detail in Balvinder and Julian’s exit from the competition just before the final

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Strictly Come Dancing stars Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon(Image: BBC)

Strictly Come Dancing fans were left emotional as they spotted a sad detail in Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon’s exit from the competition just before the final. The EastEnders star and her professional dance partner were seen losing out out being in the final three after landing in Sunday’s (December 14) dance-off opposite reality TV star and actress Amber Davies and her professional dance partner Nikita Kuzmin.

In the last dance-off of the BBC One dance contest this year, Balvinder and Julian re-performed their salsa to Gloria Estefan’s Rhythm Is Gonna Get You and Get On Your Feet for a second time, before Amber and Nikita reprised their couple’s choice to Raye’s cover of Fly Me To The Moon. Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke all voted to save Amber and Nikita, with Craig Revel Horwood, who had this week’s casting vote, said he’d have voted the same way if needed.

It means that Amber and Nikita will join former England Lionesses footballer Karen Carney and her dance partner Carlos Gu, and social media star George Clarke and his professional partner Alexis Warr in next week’s final to compete for the glitterball trophy during the final on Saturday (December 20).

Balvinder said of her time on the show: “Everyone’s been brilliant. The minute you walk into this building, it’s like a massive hug. Every single time. I’ve walked in, people have just held me and gone ‘you know, you’re all right’, it’s such a wonderful place to work. (To the judges) thank you, Claud(ia) (Winkleman) and Tess (Daly), I’m grateful that I got to be on the show on your last moment here as well, because you, for me, are what Strictly is about.

“You’re the era of Len Goodman and (Sir) Bruce Forsyth, and that’s when I started watching it, and that, for me, is really special. This year, it’s been full of so many serendipitous moments. I’m so lucky, and I’m really, very happy.”

She described Julian as “brilliant in every sense of the word” and said she had “never felt alone on this floor”, thanks to him. Julian added: “I just think that Bal embodies what this competition is about.

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Balvinder and Julian became the tenth couple to leave the BBC One dance contest(Image: BBC)

“Her spirit is unbreakable, and (to Sopal) you have shown me that I’m actually dreaming too small, and Bal can inspire us that whatever any of us want in life, all you have to have is the desire to go after it. It took six dance-offs and a perfect score to take this lady out, so I am so so proud of you.”

But fans were quick to spot a sad detail in Balvinder and Julian’s exit, as it comes after the dance revealed his mum flew from Australia just for the weekend to watch him perform during his first-ever series, having joined the pro line-up for the first time this year.

@Reality_Tim pointed out: “Julian’s mum travelled all the way from Australia to watch him get eliminated #Strictly #scd #StrictlyComeDancing.” @lucymaygoodwin said: “What do you mean I’m gonna have to sit and watch the results show and so is Jules’ mum, WHO FLEW OVER FROM AUSTRALIA TO BE THERE?!!?! [crying face emoji] #Strictly.”

Meanwhile, the last results show of Strictly’s 2025 series also featured a surprise for presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman ahead of their departure from Strictly, with their last live appearance set to be the final, while there last ever stint hosting will be year’s Christmas special, pre-recorded earlier this month.

The pair were shown a highlights package of their time on the show, featuring new interviews from the judges, and footage from their early years working with Sir Bruce. The judges, with help from Strictly professional dancer Kai Widdrington, then awarded the presenters with their own glitterball trophy.

Kylie Minogue also performed her festive single Xmas accompanied by the Strictly professional dancers on Sunday’s results show, while band James performed their 1991 hit Sit Down.