Chris McCausland Makes History on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’

‘Strictly Come Dancing‘ returned for its 2024 season, marking the 20th anniversary of the popular BBC dance competition. The show, which premiered its initial series weekend with much fanfare, saw numerous celebrities partner with professional dancers to deliver an impressive opening week.

This year’s lineup includes comedian Chris McCausland, paired with professional dancer Dianne Buswell, who captured the audience’s attention with a remarkable Cha Cha Cha rendition to the Beatles’ hit “Twist and Shout.” McCausland made history by becoming the first blind contestant to compete on the show. His performance drew acclaim from co-hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, as well as from viewers and fellow contestants.

Chris McCausland, previously a student at Hereford’s Royal National College for the Blind, joked about his pre-show nerves to Claudia Winkleman, citing waterproof underwear among his preparations. His engagement and chemistry with partner Dianne Buswell during their dance earned them a standing ovation from the audience.

The judging panel, which consists of Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke, and Craig Revel Horwood, gave mixed reviews. While Revel Horwood was critical of McCausland’s shoulder posture and foot technique, the other judges were more complimentary. Du Beke described it as “the most extraordinary thing I have seen in my whole life,” while Ballas called the performance “fabulous.”

Despite Revel Horwood’s lower score, McCausland and Buswell received solid marks: sixes from Ballas and Mabuse, a seven from Du Beke, and a four from Revel Horwood.

Chris McCausland, aged 47 and originally from Liverpool, transitioned from web development to comedy following his diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disorder that resulted in his vision loss. Known for his role as Rudi on the CBeebies program ‘Me Too!’ and as a regular act at comedy venues, including the Comedy Store, McCausland is a familiar face to UK audiences.