Actress Alex Kingston, known for her roles in Doctor Who and ER, was the eighth celebrity to leave Strictly Come Dancing after a deeply moving admission about the physical challenges she endured. Despite her determination and passion, Alex and her professional partner Johannes Radebe narrowly missed out on advancing to the quarter-finals.
In a tense dance-off, Alex faced off against EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon. Although Balvinder had been in the bottom five times before, she was saved again by the judges—albeit in a split decision. Anton Du Beke voted to save Alex, while Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse backed Balvinder. Head judge Shirley Ballas held the deciding vote, ultimately choosing to keep Balvinder in the competition and send Alex home.
Following her exit, Alex expressed gratitude and pride in her journey: “I never imagined I would last this long. It’s been an incredible experience, and I’m really proud of myself. I’ve loved every moment—you can see that in my smile. Everyone says their dance partner is a friend for life, and JoJo really will be mine.”
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Johannes added, “I’ve never smiled as much as I have these past weeks. Thank you, Alex, for being a true trooper. I’ll treasure all these memories. We accomplished what we set out to, and now we’re part of the Strictly family.”
Earlier, Alex had openly discussed the physical strain caused by the demanding competition, revealing she danced with a rib injury during Blackpool week. She stated, “This is the time to talk openly about what competitive dancing really does to your body. My 62-year-old self is asking, ‘What are you putting me through?’ Yet my spirit wants to keep going. This is the reality of being a dancer—dealing with physical pain and fatigue. But it remains a competition.”
Alex’s honest reflection shed light on the hidden toll of Strictly’s relentless schedule, highlighting the resilience and dedication required to compete.