Strictly star Balvinder Sopal favourite to leave next as bookies share exit odds but warn 'don't count her out yet'
She's been in the dance-off three times already this series
Balvinder Sopal and her pro partner Julian Caillon found themselves in the Strictly Come Dancing bottom two this weekend (November 2) for the third time – and the latest odds suggest it won’t be the last time.
The EastEnders star chuckled as she heard the news that she’d have to dance again. But 2025’s biggest survivor won the dance-off, in which she had to compete against Ellie Goldstein.
All four judges voted to save Balvinder, sending Ellie home. And now bookies have exclusively told our sister site Entertainment Daily that we shouldn’t rule out Balvinder’s staying power just yet…
Balvinder favourite to leave next but you ‘can’t count her out’
Speaking on behalf of SportsCastingUK, spokesperson Shane Orton told ED!: “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.”
He added: “Harry and Karen will be feeling some concern after being the lowest scorers last week following a small mistake in their American Smooth routine. La Voix and Aljaz put on a sensational display with their Paso Doble. And there is a sense that they have more to offer, having shown massive improvement over the past two weeks since their disastrously low score in week four.”
As it stands currently, Balvinder is the bookies’ favourite to exit this weekend (November 9) with odds of 10/11. But anything can happen on Strictly Come Dancing, as we saw when Amber Davies landed in the bottom two.
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey is the second favourite to be eliminated next. He has odds of 7/4. La Voix, meanwhile, has odds of 7/2 to leave this weekend.
George Clarke holding firm as favourite to win
Influencer George Clarke has certainly impressed those casting their votes at the bookies. He remains 6/4 favourite to win the show with his pro Alexis Warr. This is despite some backlash after their routine this weekend.
Lewis Cope is closing the gap, though, after his Couple’s Choice earned him the first 40 of the series. He is 2/1 second favourite to win, with Alex Kingston third favourite with odds of 4/1.
Vicky Pattison (8/1), Karen Carney (12/1), Amber Davies (28/1) are next. Bringing up the rear in the battle to win the Glitterball are La Voix – with odds of 50/1 to win – Harry, with odds of 80/1 to win, and Balvinder, who sits in the rank outsider position with odds of 150/1 to win the show.
Shane said: “After producing a stunning perfect performance with their Couple’s Choice, Lewis and Katya surged into second favouritism, closing in on long-time favourites George and Alexis.
“The standard across the entire cast was superb on Halloween special night, with a huge bounce-back for week one’s highest scorers, Karen and Carlos, who delivered a sizzling Argentine Tango. Karen has been backed into 12/1 from 25/1.
“The competition feels wide open in recent weeks, and it would be no surprise if George is no longer the favourite for the show by this time next week.”
Strictly Come Dancing is on Saturday (November 8) at 6.25pm on BBC One.
Read more: Strictly star Amy Dowden reveals she’s having a second mastectomy this week
