Chris McCausland Receives Standing Ovation for Foxtrot on Strictly Come Dancing

Comedian Chris McCausland captured the attention of the Strictly Come Dancing audience with a spirited foxtrot performance that earned him a standing ovation. McCausland, who is making history as the show’s first blind contestant, impressed both the judges and the audience with his graceful dance moves alongside his partner, Dianne Buswell. The pair performed to ‘Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy’ by The Tams and received a score of 29.

Head judge Shirley Ballas expressed admiration for McCausland, saying, “You are an example to every celebrity upstairs when it comes to footwork.” Motsi Mabuse acknowledged the challenge of the slow foxtrot, stating that McCausland made it seem “so easy,” while Anton Du Beke described him as “wonderful.”

In a light-hearted exchange, McCausland jested with Craig Revel Horwood regarding his unique critiques, prompting Revel Horwood to humorously focus on McCausland’s finger positioning, but also acknowledging his spirit and musicality. “By the sounds of the way things are going, I think Craig’s blinder than I am,” McCausland quipped earlier in the show.

Opera singer Wynne Evans likewise impressed the judges with a Viennese waltz that earned a score of 30. Performing with his partner, Katya Jones, to the operatic piece ‘The Blue Danube’ by Johann Strauss II, Evans was commended by Du Beke for a dance that he imagined he could have performed.

Sports personality and former Arsenal midfielder, Paul Merson, garnered mixed reviews for his energetic salsa routine to ‘Fireball’ by Pitbull, scoring 15. Anton Du Beke was thrilled by his enthusiasm, while Revel Horwood described it as more akin to a “comedy dance at a wedding.”

Dr. Punam Krishan, known for her role on Morning Live, showcased “sass” in her foxtrot to Shania Twain’s ‘Man! I Feel Like A Woman!’ However, critiques on her posture led to a score of 18.

Olympian swimmer Tom Dean kicked off the evening with a cha cha, scoring 20. Donning sparkly attire, Dean received encouragement to maintain a dynamic presence from Shirley Ballas, though Craig Revel Horwood noted his lack of fluidity.

In a notable tandem with professional dancer Amy Dowden, who recently returned to the show following her battle with breast cancer, JB Gill of JLS topped last week’s scores. Meanwhile, singer Toyah Willcox faced critiques for her tango to Madonna’s ‘Ray Of Light,’ receiving the night’s lowest score of 12 points.

Strictly Come Dancing continues to broadcast on BBC One, drawing eager audiences each week as contestants vie for top scores and entertain viewers with their unique performances.