Ahead of her return to the famous ballroom on Saturday night (November 1), the EastEnders actress had admitted to having a tough week in the training room alongside her professional dance partner, Julian Caillon.

Alongside a video of pictures showcasing her latest week in the competition, Balvinder admitted: “It’s been a tough old week – they weren’t lying when the said the Rumba is the hardest dance to learn.

“And when you’re not a dancer, have bent ankles and turned in feet which make it hard to balance in heels, let alone walk or dance in them, you feel like you’re fighting a losing battle. Trying to change 40 odd years of bone structure that puts limitations on your ability to dance brought forwards dread & insecurity ‐ at the beginning of week everything felt impossibile.”

She went on: “But I am partnered with one of the best in the business. Julian’s (@julian_caillon) perseverance, hard work and determination is a testament to the teacher he is. He didn’t give up. He filled me with courage, confidence and positivity, even on the days when he himself might not have believed it, and here we are.

“We are show ready. We’ve pushed hard and challenged ourselves. We’ve been on a journey with this one… so much so, that I think the Rumba might be my favourite dance so far. I just want to dance it for myself…”

It was during Strictly’s Halloween special that Balvinder and Julian returned to the ballroom, after avoiding last weekend’s dance-off having landed in the dreaded position for two weeks in a row, with their rumba to Stay by Shakespears Sister.

The judges gave Balvinder and Julian a very respectable score of 28 out of 40 for their routine, but some Strictly fans felt the foursome still critiqued them too harshly.