Chris McCausland could end a 12-year streak and make history if he triumphs on Strictly Come Dancing this weekend.
For over a decade, there’s been a curious link between Strictly and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! Despite being filmed worlds apart—one in London, the other in Australia—and having vastly different formats, the two shows have remained oddly connected.
Since the early 2010s, a pattern has emerged: whenever a man wins ITV’s I’m A Celebrity, a woman claims victory on BBC’s Strictly, and vice versa.
This trend began in 2012, when Louis Smith took home the Glitterball trophy while Charlie Brooks was crowned Queen of the Jungle.
The streak has continued for 11 years, most recently with Ellie Leach winning Strictly and Sam Thompson crowned King of the Jungle in 2023.
Over the weekend, Danny Jones, 38, was named King of the Jungle, which would typically signal a woman claiming the Glitterball trophy.
Ant and Dec celebrates Danny Jones’s win on I’m A Celebrity… Get me Out of Here! (Ant and Dec Instagram)
However, this year could break tradition, as Strictly frontrunner McCausland is the clear favourite. His odds are an unprecedented 1-10, compared to fellow finalists JB Gill at 14-1, Sarah Hadland at 16-1, and Tasha Ghouri at 25-1.
While Strictly fans know surprises can happen on the night, the 47-year-old and his partner, Dianne Buswell, 35, have consistently wowed audiences with their routines and earned them a place in the dance show’s history.
Some of their standout performances include solo steps in a Waltz to You’ll Never Walk Alone and a poignant blackout moment in a Couple’s Choice dance to Instant Karma! (We All Shine On).
McCausland pictured with his Strictly dance partner Dianne Buswell (PA Media)
As the show’s first blind contestant, McCausland previously opened up about the significance of his journey, inspiring viewers and breaking barriers along the way.
He told Metro: “I wanted to be able to represent not just people who are blind but people with a disability in a positive way that was ‘look what is possible’ rather than what is not, and we’ve done that more than I had hoped we could have.”
On Saturday, viewers will watch as the finalists perform not one but three dances; their favourite dance of the series, the judge’s pick and a show dance, to vie for the glitterball trophy.
Strictly Come Dancing final airs live on BBC One on Saturday, December 14, from 6pm