Richard Madeley criticises Strictly judges for undervaluing contestant Balvinder Sopal

Richard Madeley criticises Strictly judges

Television presenter Richard Madeley has spoken out against the judging panel of Strictly Come Dancing, arguing that contestant Balvinder Sopal has been "consistently underrated" by the show’s judges.

Support for Balvinder Sopal

Madeley, discussing the topic on Good Morning Britain, expressed disappointment at what he viewed as overly harsh scoring and lack of recognition for Sopal’s performances.

"She’s a natural performer with real grace, but the judges seem to overlook her every week," he said.

He suggested that Sopal had demonstrated noticeable progress throughout the competition and deserved higher marks than those awarded.

Audience reaction

Fans on social media echoed Madeley’s remarks, many posting messages of support for Balvinder and criticising the judging panel for perceived bias. Comments praised her "steady improvement" and "elegant presence" on the dancefloor.

Strictly Come Dancing response

The BBC has not issued an official response to Madeley’s comments. The programme has, however, stood by its judging process, maintaining that all contestants are assessed fairly based on performance each week.

A representative previously stated that judges provide feedback "built on professional dance standards and consistency of performance."

Summary

Richard Madeley’s criticism reflects a growing audience sentiment that Strictly’s judges may at times undervalue strong performances from contestants such as Balvinder Sopal.

Author’s summary: Richard Madeley accused Strictly Come Dancing judges of undervaluing Balvinder Sopal, fueling debate on fairness and consistency in scoring.

The Independent on MSN — 2025-11-29