Chris McCausland, who made history as the first blind contestant to clinch the Strictly Come Dancing title, has spoken out about his landmark victory. The 47 year old comedian and his dance partner Dianne Buswell were crowned champions on Saturday night after winning over the public in the BBC show’s 20th anniversary year.
They triumphed over a star-studded line-up including Miranda’s Sarah Hadland with Vito Coppola, Love Island’s Tasha Ghouri paired with Aljaz Skorjanec, and JLS’s JB Gill dancing with Lauren Oakley.
In an emotional response to his win, McCausland said: “This is for her (Dianne) and it’s for everyone out there that thought and got told they couldn’t do something.”
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He continued to inspire, adding, “It just shows with opportunity and support and determination, anything can happen.”
He also expressed his gratitude towards Buswell, stating: “She deserves this so much. She’s just honestly one of the easiest people to be funny with – and unless she changes her number, she’s stuck with me.”
Hailing from Liverpool, McCausland, who completely lost his sight by age 22 due to retinitis pigmentosa, described his victory as “astonishing” and shared his initial doubts: “I honestly thought I could go out in the first week or two, and I know no-one went out in the first week but I still thought I could.”
His achievement has been lauded by disability charity Sense and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), highlighting his contribution to raising awareness for individuals living with disabilities.
Steven Morris, who is deafblind and serves as the campaigns officer for disability charity Sense, hailed the victory as evidence that people “can break down barriers many wrongly don’t think are possible” and believed it would “lead to many more disabled people being included in the biggest TV shows”. Debbie Miller, director of customer advice and support at RNIB, praised both McCausland and the second deaf contestant Ghouri for leaving an “immeasurable positive impact”, noting that their participation has “sparked so many positive conversations” and underscored “the importance of diversity”.
Kerry Bevan, head of skills, information and support at sight-loss charity Guide Dogs UK, described the achievement as a “personal triumph, but also a landmark moment for everyone in the visually impaired community”. Alison Kerry, head of communications at disability equality charity Scope, emphasised that the “impact of Strictly in breaking down barriers can’t be underestimated”, adding: “Thanks to Chris’s winning performance, perceptions will be challenged and more people will be having conversations about the importance of disability inclusion and accessibility.”
Actress Rose Ayling-Ellis, who competed in 2021 and emerged victorious as the first deaf contestant, set a precedent for such achievements.
This victory marks the first win for Buswell, who previously reached the final with social media influencer Joe Sugg in 2018, and Eastenders actor and model Bobby Brazier in 2023. Reflecting on the shared success, she stated: “Chris says that this is for me, but it’s not for me – this is for me and you, Chris. We did this together.”
“This is for both of us, not just me, we worked together and we did it.”
After months of rehearsals, McCausland’s trio of dances won acclaim, including the couple’s top pick, their closing show dance, and the judges’ favourite routine. Craig Revel Horwood was particularly moved after attending a rehearsal to watch McCausland and his partner Buswell, describing him in a heartfelt Christmas card as a “light that shines for all to see”.
Head judge Shirley Ballas expressed her admiration by hugging choreographer Buswell and calling her an “amazing teacher”. Motsi Mabuse chimed in, highlighting McCausland’s wider impact, saying he’s more than just an inspiring figure for the blind community – “a role model for each and every one of us”.
A Waltz to Gerry and the Pacemakers’ ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ marked his last dance of the series, earning McCausland his debut perfect score of 40 points. He merged different styles in his second act to the tune of New Radicals’ ‘You Get What You Give’, which also brought back his memorable “blackout moment” opening dance.
The pair then chose Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) by John Lennon for their freestyle routine, where McCausland symbolically covered Buswell’s eyes, made the room go dark, and concluded with a burst of lights and pyrotechnics. It was a reminder of last year’s triumph when Ellie Leach, familiar to audiences as Faye Windass from Coronation Street, clinched victory alongside Coppola.
Oakley stepped in for Amy Dowden in early November after the Welsh dancer had to bow out owing to an injury. Despite her earlier withdrawal, Dowden did make an appearance in the final, warmly embracing Oakley and Gill post-performance.
The end of this series, which marks Strictly’s 20th anniversary, has not been without its share of drama, with a controversy sparked by allegations from 2023 contestant Amanda Abbington against Italian dancer Giovanni Pernice, claiming she had been subjected to a “toxic environment” and “inappropriate, mean, nasty bullying”. Pernice, absent from the 2024 Strictly professional roster, has firmly denied “any claim of threatening or abusive behaviour”.
While the BBC probe supported “some, but not all” of Abbington’s accusations against Pernice, the show has consequently introduced several welfare measures this year, such as chaperones during rehearsals.