BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Balvinder Sopal breaks silence after 'difficult' week

Following a spine-tingling Strictly Come Dancing performance on Saturday night, Balvinder Sopal ended up in the dance-off alongside Ellie Goldstein. Balvinder and her professional partner Julian Caillon reprised their Rumba to Stay by Shakespears Sister, whilst Ellie and Vito Coppola repeated their Tango to Abracadabra by Lady Gaga. Once both couples had danced again, the judges gave their verdicts and chose to save Balvinder and Julian.

Following the dance-off, Balvinder posted on Instagram with a photograph of herself and Julian performing, writing: "I loved dancing the Rumba with @Julian_caillon. This was a gorgeous pay off to a very difficult week." This followed Julian sharing images of their performance, describing it as their "favourite dance yet".

"Which I can't believe we're saying considering where we started with the Rumba," he wrote.

"This week more than ever I saw @leesopal grow and improve as a dancer. From the technique to the performance there was absolutely nothing more she could've done, and I absolutely loved dancing this routine together.

"Make sure you're tuning into the results show tonight to see if we "Stay" in the competition."

Meanwhile, during the Strictly results programme, Vito made a heartfelt pledge to Ellie following their elimination.

"Honestly, there are no words I can use to describe how proud I am of you and you did really change my life so much," he said. "You made me such a better person. At the beginning of this year, I said to myself please, please, please can you send me a beautiful angel into my life? And now you arrived.

"I've never had a little sister but I always wanted one. Now, I have you and you're my little sister forever, and your big brother is always by your side."

Nine couples remain in the competition and will perform next Saturday alongside the professionals, who will be joined by the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment for a special Remembrance Sunday tribute.