Who Reached the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing Final?

The dream of lifting the glitterball has abruptly ended — and viewers are not hiding their anger.

With only three couples left in the running for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing title, Sunday night’s results episode dealt a painful blow to fans: beloved contestant Balvinder Sopal was eliminated from the competition.

A Dramatic Dance-Off That Ended in Disappointment

On Sunday, 14 December, the EastEnders actress and her professional partner, Julian Caillon, found themselves in the bottom two for an astonishing sixth time. They went head-to-head with reality TV star Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin.

Although Sopal delivered a powerful and passionate performance in the dance-off, the judges ultimately decided to send her home — a verdict that immediately sparked outrage among viewers.

Fans React in Fury: “It’s Always the Wrong People Who Leave”

Devoted fans flooded social media platforms to express their frustration and heartbreak.

One viewer commented, “It’s devastating to see Balvinder go — she absolutely deserved a place in the final. She’s a stunning dancer with so much grace. She was consistently under-marked and repeatedly pushed into dance-offs. It’s so unfair. The wrong people always get voted out, just like Vicky Patterson and Lewis last week.”

Another fan criticised the imbalance of the contest, writing, “Amateur versus professional 😡😡 Balvinder never stood a chance. She improved a thousand percent more than Amber throughout this competition.”

A third supporter added, “Balvinder is an exceptional dancer, and the competition wasn’t fair. Watching her beautiful routines was such a joy.”

Perhaps the most heated reaction of all accused the judges of missing a clear error: “Nikita made an obvious mistake in that dance-off! Are the judges watching the same footage as us? Based solely on that performance, Balvinder should have gone through!”

Tears, Pride, and a Final Samba

Just days before their last appearance, Sopal and Caillon reflected on their very first performance — a Samba — which poignantly became one of their final dances on the show.

Looking back on her early weeks, Sopal openly acknowledged her nerves, saying, “Honestly, my legs were so weak. I had no confidence at all. I can see it now — everything looks shy and restrained.”

However, as the competition progressed, both fans and judges witnessed her remarkable growth and confidence on the dance floor.

“The thing is, once you realise something, you have to change it,” she explained. “There were articles saying, ‘She’s gone next week. She’s finished.’ But we kept surviving.”

Despite the outcome, Sopal remained proud of her journey, concluding, “I’m proud of us. I’m proud that Julian never gave up on me.”

A Final That Feels Incomplete

With Sopal and Caillon now out of the competition, the remaining finalists are Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin, George Clarke and Alexis Warr, and Karen Carney with Carlos Gu — all preparing to battle it out for the coveted glitterball trophy.

Yet for many viewers, the excitement has noticeably dimmed. Sopal’s exit marks the second week in a row that a fan favourite has been eliminated, leaving some questioning the direction of the competition.

Another Shock Elimination Rocks the Ballroom

As previously reported, the quarter-final produced an unexpected and deeply upsetting result that stunned Strictly Come Dancing fans nationwide.

On Saturday, 6 December, the remaining five couples lit up the ballroom in their bid to secure a semi-final spot. However, Lewis Cope and Katya Jones — widely seen as potential champions — were sent home in what many viewers labelled an “absolute travesty.”

“More Than I Ever Dreamed Of”: Lewis Cope Exits with Dignity

Despite the devastating outcome, the Emmerdale actor handled his elimination with grace and emotion.

“It’s honestly been more than I ever could have hoped for,” Cope said, admitting he never imagined making it to week 11. “If someone had told me at the start that I’d last this long, I’d have been over the moon and accepted it instantly.”

He praised Strictly for offering a space where contestants could grow, learn, and be themselves, describing his experience as “a memory I’ll carry with me forever.”

Turning to his partner, his voice thick with emotion, he added, “This is all because of you. You’ve given me everything I could have wished for. I can’t imagine doing this with anyone else — thank you.”

Katya Jones in Tears: “You Will Be Remembered”

When host Tess Daly asked Jones for her final words, the professional dancer spoke through tears.

“You’ve created moments on Strictly Come Dancing that will go down in history,” she said. “You’ll be remembered not only as one of — if not the — best male celebrity dancers we’ve ever had, but also as an incredible human being.”

Jones went on to praise Cope’s humility, saying she was grateful that viewers got to see both his talent and his kindness.

“Strictly Has Lost Its Sparkle”: Fans Voice Their Anger

While Cope and Jones exited with dignity, fans reacted with disbelief and anger online.

“I’ve watched Strictly since the very beginning, and this is the biggest shock and worst result I’ve ever seen,” one viewer wrote. Another added, “I’ve been in shock all day since reading the results this morning.”

A third fan was blunt: “Completely stunned and so disappointed with the series now. He was the best dancer. How did he even end up in the dance-off? I’ve lost interest.”

Others questioned the voting system altogether, with one commenter saying, “The public needs less influence on the voting. Lewis was the best dancer the show has had in years. This result is disgraceful.”

Judges Divided as Emotions Run High

On Saturday night, Cope and Jones tied with George and Alexis, as well as Balvinder and Julian, all scoring 35 points. However, their final performance failed to win over all four judges.

Shirley Ballas remarked, “For me, it wasn’t your strongest performance,” while Craig Revel Horwood echoed the sentiment, saying, “We’ve seen you do better.”

Anton Du Beke offered a more positive view, praising Cope’s “incredible physicality” and adding, “Overall, I really liked it.”

Nevertheless, the pair landed in the bottom two and were forced into a dance-off against Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin — with the judges ultimately choosing to save Amber and Nikita.

After the performance, Cope was faintly heard apologising to Jones, a moment that left many viewers deeply moved.

“Seeing Katya cry broke me,” one fan wrote. “Facing a final without the best couple — the ones who delivered the most memorable routines — has taken the sparkle out of the show.”

Support from Loved Ones and a Shift in Fan Allegiances

Following the episode, Cope’s girlfriend, Rachel Lopez, shared a heartfelt message beneath a clip of his performance.

“I am so incredibly proud of you,” she wrote. “Your strength is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. You’re beautiful inside and out. [sic]”

As the competition nears its conclusion, many fans are now throwing their support behind former England footballer Karen Carney as their new favourite to win the glitterball — a position that many once believed belonged to Lewis Cope and Katya Jones.