Chris McCausland's journey from salesman to Strictly final winner
Chris McCausland and his dance partner, Dianne Buswell, captivated the audience with their performances.
Comedian Chris McCausland has emerged victorious in the 22nd season of Strictly Come Dancing, triumphing over 14 other famous contestants to claim this year's glittering trophy.
Throughout the series, he has received acclaim for surpassing traditional notions of what a visually impaired individual can accomplish while dancing.
McCausland, who is 47 years old, became blind in his twenties due to a condition called retinitis pigmentosa.
But who is the person that has captivated the audience of the Saturday night dance contest?
"I'm Hooked On Stand-Up Comedy!"
McCausland was born in Liverpool in 1977, but in the mid-1990s, he relocated to southwest London to pursue a degree in software engineering at Kingston University.
After finishing his studies, he started working as a software developer. However, he had to switch professions when his vision started to decline.
In an interview with the i newspaper in 2023, he shared that he lost his vision entirely by the time he was 22 due to a genetic disorder known as retinitis pigmentosa, a condition that also affected his grandmother and mother.
His condition caused the light-sensitive cells in his retinas to gradually break down, eventually leading to complete loss of vision.
"Essentially, I had been gradually losing my vision since birth, and I didn't really realize it was happening—much like a frog that doesn't notice when the water around it is getting hotter," he explained.
His subsequent position was in sales, which he described as "quite dull" and something he was merely doing to pass the time while he searched for his true passion. He shared this insight with the Liverpool Echo in 2016.
The pivotal moment arrived when McCausland turned 26.
"I came down with shingles and was on a two-week leave from work," he shared.
I was feeling completely restless, so on a whim, I challenged myself to try my hand at stand-up comedy.
He said that his very first comedy show went so well that he caught "the stand-up bug," and he hasn’t stopped performing since.
Source of the image: PA Media
McCausland was the inaugural contestant with visual impairment on Strictly Come Dancing.
He participated in various new talent contests and showcased his performances at the Edinburgh Fringe for six consecutive years from 2005 to 2012.
He started his television journey in 2006, taking on a key role in the CBeebies series Me Too!, where he portrayed a visually impaired market vendor named Rudi.
Comedy producers began to notice his abilities as well. He was featured in the Paramount series At The Comedy Store starting in 2008 and received a Creative Diversity award for comedy in 2011. This honor was granted by a panel of broadcasters, including Channel 4, BBC, ITV, and Sky.
While he was establishing his reputation, his appearance on the BBC One panel show Would I Lie to You? in 2019 sparked a discussion about the insufficient representation of people with disabilities on British television.
He wasn't just a token addition; his talent for comedy made him sought after for popular shows like Live At The Apollo, Have I Got News for You, and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
In addition, the actor has appeared in episodes of Jimmy McGovern's "Moving On" and the popular soap opera "EastEnders."
The producers of Strictly Come Dancing reached out to McCausland on two occasions to participate, but he declined both invitations as he was worried it would push him out of his "comfort zone."
In an interview with the Times in October, he expressed his worries, saying, "I was afraid it would turn out badly. I truly believed it could end up being a total mess."
After being asked a third time, he finally agreed, and it turned out that his concerns were unwarranted.
During an interview on BBC Radio 4's Today program last month, he described his experience on the show as "intense." However, he expressed optimism that it might help expand people's perceptions of what individuals with disabilities can achieve.
He mentioned, "I believe that there's often a lack of faith in the abilities of disabled individuals. For example, when someone navigates a staircase to get into a taxi, people will often exclaim, 'Wow, how were you able to do that?'"
He and professional dancer Dianne Buswell became the 100th couple to take the stage at the Blackpool Ballroom, a legendary highlight of the competition.
McCausland expresses his deep appreciation for the opportunity to work alongside Diane.
A memorable highlight from this year's Strictly was the performance by him and Buswell to John Lennon's "Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)."
The duo gave a short performance in the dark to demonstrate to the judges and audience what McCausland experienced during the show.
Judge Craig Revel Horwood referred to it as a "moving blackout moment" and "truly amazing."
Check out: Chris McCausland from Strictly's impressive performance during a blackout dance!
The duo repeated their earlier dance in the finale, showcasing additional performances to "You Get What You Give" by New Radicals and "You'll Never Walk Alone" by Gerry and the Pacemakers.
Before the final, McCausland shared his thoughts on his partnership with Buswell, who has made it to the finals two times previously. He said, "The producers at Strictly recognized that Dianne would be the ideal partner for me. Our sense of humor, perspective on life, the similarities we share, and her way of communicating all align perfectly."
"I believe they recognized the strong synergy we would have as a team, and I'm thankful for that."
He has also kept audiences amused with his clever and humorous remarks during interviews.
After two decades of gaining recognition in the comedy world, McCausland's triumph on Strictly has established him as one of the UK's most beloved television figures.
