“WAIT…WHAT!?” Who left Strictly this week as 2025 finalists named and Daly and Winkleman get their own glitterballs

Balvinder Sopal has finally lost a dance off after facing Amber Davies in the Strictly semi-final. BBC)

Balvinder Sopal hailed Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly as “what Strictly is all about” as she was finally defeated in the dance off.

The EastEnders star became the 10th celebrity to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing 2025 on Sunday, 14 December, missing out on a place in the final, after the judges chose to save Amber Davies and her partner Nikita Kuziman.

Sopal paid tribute to hosts Daly and Winkleman – who have announced they will step down from the show at the end of this year – as she bowed out with her head held high. The soap actor made it to the semi-final having survived a record five dance offs.

Sopal said her family had been through “hard times” but that 2025 had been her “Yes year” and she was proud she said yes to Strictly.

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman were given their very own glitterball trophies. (BBC Screengrab)

Former Love Island contestant Davies – who has been accused of having dance experience from her time performing on the West End stage – won a place in the final, alongside influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr and footballer Karen Carney and Carlos Gu.

It was an emotional exit show as the judges all paid tribute to Winkleman and Daly as they hosted their last semi-final and said how much they would miss them. Craig Revel Horwood thanked Winkleman for all the dresses she has leant him over the years. And the pair were given their own commemorative glitterball trophies.

Sopal’s sixth dance off

Balvinder Sopal has been in a record six dance off this series. (BBC)

Davies and Kuziman were second from the top of the leaderboard after receiving a perfect score of 40 for their Couple’s Choice to RAYE’s Fly Me to the Moon and 37 for their Tango to Higher by Michael Buble. Sopal and Caillon were bottom of the leaderboard, scoring 37 for their Salsa to Rhythm Is Gonna Get You/Get On Your Feet by Gloria Estefan and another 37 to their Waltz to Buble’s At This Moment.

The dance off results revealed Sopal and partner Julian Caillon would face Davies and Nikita Kuzmin to fight for the chance to stay in the competition. Davies and Kuziman performed their Couple’s Choice again and Sopal and Caillon danced their Salsa once more.

The judges were unanimous in their decision.

Motsi Mabuse said: “Well, it was a really beautiful dance all because of the beautiful dancing we saw, and I want to see next week in the final, Amber and Nikita.”

Head Judge Shirley Ballas agreed: “Well, an amazing two top class ladies in every respect, and I’ve enjoyed the journey of both. Fantastic. But on this occasion, I’m going to have to save Amber and Nikita.”

The Strictly judges all agreed to save Amber Davies. (BBC)

Anton Du Beke said: “Well, I have to say this, it was, it was an excellent, dance off. And also Balvinda, you, you are like, woman in an instant dance or a dance-off, you are unrecognisable. You just danced amazingly. Amber, you brought such quality and refinement to your performance as well. I’m going to shave Amber and Niki.”

Revel Horwood, who this week had the casting vote, said he agreed: “Yes, Amber and Nikita.”

Balvinder bids farewell

Balvinder Sopal said 2025 has been her ‘Yes’ year. (BBC)

Sopal told Daly: “I’ve absolutely adored every single minute. All the dance offs, all the challenges, but just more than anything, just being in this building and dancing on this floor with such an amazing human being. It was my Yes Year, and I said yes to Strictly. My family, we’ve had some hard times, but they’ve been here.”

She told Caillon: “I mean, I have no words, actually. You’ve been brilliant in every sense of the word, when I wobbled, and when I felt really brilliant about the dance and got the steps right, you’ve just held me in your hands and you’ve gone, Bal, we’ve got this. It’s just me and you, and we’re gonna do this together. And we have done every single dance together, I’ve never felt alone on this floor, and I just want you to remember me. Don’t replace me too soon!”

Caillon replied: “I just think that Bal embodies what this competition is about. Her spirit is unbreakable, and [to Bal] 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!”

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are leaving Strictly Come Dancing after 21 years. (BBC)

Sopal then added: “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 and Tess, 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 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.”

Tess and Claudia in the spotlight

The judges paid tribute to Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on their last Strictly semi-final. (BBC Screengrab)

The judges put hosts Daly and Winkleman centre stage on Sunday evening’s exit show as they took the opportunity to pay tribute to the pair. The presenters announced at the beginning of the series that they have decided to leave Strictly after 21 years.

Revel Horwood said: “This is our last time in the Clauditorium with the gorgeous Claudia and the gorgeous Tess here as well, and we just want to tell you both how much we’re going to miss you, how much we totally and utterly love you to bits.

“I mean, we’ve been working together since It Takes Two. We’ve been on the show for 21 years, darling, looking fabulous. But we just want you to know, and I certainly personally want to say thank you Claudes for the dresses, you’ve thrown my way and the shoes.

“Tess for the pizza parties in your dressing room, thin crust, of course, always. But we really, really love you both, we really do, and we’ve got a little surprise for you.”

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman were given their very own glitterball trophies. (BBC Screengrab)

The pair were presented with their very own commemorative Strictly glitterball trophies. Revel Horwood joked: “And can I just say it’s not for dancing.”

Daly said: “Thank you for all your gorgeous words.” Winkleman added: “I can’t believe that we’re so lucky. And you and everybody who makes the team, we are so, so, it’s been an honour.”

And Daly told them: “Yeah, you guys are like family toys, and we’ll always feel like that about you. The whole team is just the best team. I’ve had the most amazing time.”

Strictly 2025 finalists

The Strictly finalists bid farewell to Balvinder Sopal on the dancefloor. (BBC)

Clarke, Carney and Davies are excited to have made it through to the final of the 23rd series of the BBC dance contest and a chance to win the glitterball trophy.

Carney confessed: “I couldn’t even, I felt like I’d won a competition being cast in it, let alone come this far. Honestly, it’s, I’ve watched it as I’ve. I’ve said many times for years on end, and to be where we are, I literally, I don’t, I haven’t comprehended it just yet, but for everyone that’s made it happen, thank you so much.”

Clarke said: “That’s mental. I mean, it’s, it’s insane to think that that’s even a possibility, like the fact that that’s real. It doesn’t feel real. I mean I didn’t expect anything of myself. I was, as Kaz said, over the moon to get the invite onto the show and I was like, sure, I’ll give it a go, but I didn’t expect anything.”

Strictly Come Dancing 2025’s grand final will air on BBC One at 7pm on Saturday, 20 December.