Chris McCausland's private life including wife Patricia 'who talked him into Strictly'

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Comedian Chris McCausland has achieved a historic milestone on Strictly Come Dancing by becoming the first blind contestant to win the BBC competition.

The 47-year-old celebrity claimed the glitterball trophy on Saturday night alongside her partner, Dianne Buswell, after winning the affection of the nation.

They triumphed over Sarah Hadland, the actress from Miranda, along with her partner Vito Coppola, as well as Tasha Ghouri from Love Island and dancer Aljaz Skorjanec, and JLS singer JB Gill with his partner Lauren Oakley.

Upon being declared the winner, Chris expressed: "This is dedicated to her (Dianne) and to everyone out there who has been told they can’t achieve something."

"It’s a clear reminder that with the right opportunities, encouragement, and perseverance, anything is possible."

Although Dianne has received a lot of acclaim for her support and guidance of Chris, it seems that it is actually his wife who encouraged him to participate in the show.

Here’s all the information you need about Chris's personal life, including details about his wife, Patricia.

Who Is Chris McCausland And How Did He Go Blind?

Chris's path to becoming the first blind winner of Strictly Come Dancing transformed him from someone who was hesitant to join the competition into a true champion of the program.

The comedian from Liverpool has been the host of his own Saturday morning show on ITV. He has also made appearances on various panel shows, including Have I Got News For You, 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown, and QI, and has been seen on Celebrity Gogglebox as well.

Before joining the dance competition, he playfully mentioned that he might be the only contestant who had never actually seen the show. However, he believed it would be beneficial to step outside his ‘comfort zone.’

By the time he turned 22, Chris had completely lost his vision because of retinitis pigmentosa, an inherited eye condition that leads to the slow deterioration of the retina.

He had earlier discussed the situation with the i newspaper, mentioning that other members of his family were also impacted.

"My grandmother had it, and so did my mom. I've been gradually losing my sight since I was born, but it happened so slowly that I didn't really realize it," he said.

There's a popular belief that when you lose your eyesight, your hearing improves. That's not true. However, you do start to focus on it more. So, when you're relaxing at a beach resort, feeling the heat and unable to see your surroundings, all you end up doing is fixating on just how hot you are. It makes it harder for me to enjoy the experience, he remarked.

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In a guest appearance on "Scared of the Dark" last year, Chris shared his experience of being able to perceive “light and space.” He explained that he has a sense of the environment around him—not by identifying specific objects, but by understanding the layout of the room and being aware of whether anything is directly in front of him.

Looking back on his experience of losing his vision, he said, "It was definitely tough. I've been unable to see for 20 years now. When it first began, it was frightening and quite humiliating."

"I found myself in difficult situations because I was too hesitant to seek assistance. I'll never be on the same level as everyone else."

The actor, known for his roles in BBC series like Moving On, Me Too!, Not Going Out, and EastEnders, received a warm welcome from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) after being announced as part of the cast. However, he revealed that he had previously refused the opportunity to participate in the show multiple times.

Who Is Chris McCausland's Wife, Patricia?

Chris first crossed paths with his wife, Patricia, in 2005 during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. At the time, Patricia was a TV producer for Sky and was involved in creating a show about the festival.

As reported by MailOnline, Chris brought Patricia, originally from Brazil and who relocated to the UK in her youth, to a Pearl Jam concert at Hyde Park in London in 2010. During the event, he promised himself that he would ask her to marry him if the band played their song "Black."

During the concert, Chris proposed, and they tied the knot in 2012.

Chris sees them as "complementary" and shared about his wife: "She’s vibrant and pushes me beyond my usual boundaries, while I think I bring some joy and laughter into her life."

"I seemed to be a source of calm in her life that she found appealing; it was something she lacked."

A source shared with the publication that Patricia has always believed in Chris. He was very anxious about not performing at his highest level in the competition, but she consistently trusted in his abilities.

"She values her privacy and doesn’t seek attention, but don’t be misled by her quiet nature – she has supported him at every turn. She is his steadfast support."

Reports suggest that Patricia was the one who convinced Chris to join Strictly, but his 11-year-old daughter Sophie had a completely different perspective on the matter.

Heartwarming Reason Chris’ Daughter Opposed Strictly

Before he won Strictly, Chris shared that his 11-year-old daughter Sophie was not in favor of him participating in the show.

Chris mentioned earlier that he had rejected the chance before because it felt too intimidating.

However, his daughter felt a different kind of worry; at first, she was anxious about the possibility of him tripping and feeling humiliated.

Chris mentioned, "She was really scared when I began this because I think she sensed my anxiety, and I couldn't conceal it."

"She felt really anxious for me, worried that I might stumble, that it could be awkward, or that I would make a fool of myself."

Sophie has really become Chris's biggest supporter. He mentioned, "Every Saturday, she would tell me, 'It doesn't matter, Dad, if you go out because in my eyes, you've already succeeded.'"

"When we reached the semi-finals, she turned to me and said, 'Dad, remember when I said it didn't really matter? Well, I've had a change of heart. I believe you can actually win this!'"

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Chris has shared his concerns about fatherhood, expressing to MailOnline that he worries about not being good enough as a parent. He reflected on all the experiences he enjoyed with his own father and wondered, "How will I manage to do all of that? I feel like I won’t be a real dad—I’ll just be a part-time one." This thought has really troubled him.

At first, he struggled with parenting and found it quite challenging, but he managed to adapt and even discovered a way to stay connected with his daughter despite the circumstances that kept them apart.

"In an interview, Chris shared, 'My daughter has only ever known me as someone who can't see.'"

"She discovered that she could show my wife things by pointing, and she guided my hand to objects with me. That became her way of expressing herself to us."

He was able to "animate her likeness" with the help of AI by capturing images of Sophie and utilizing technology to generate a detailed description of her appearance, facial expression, and actions.

As Chris wrapped up his time on Strictly, he reflected on it as the most fulfilling experience he has ever had.

"It has been tiring, and it's definitely the most frightening experience I've ever had, but I believe it’s also been the most fulfilling thing I've ever accomplished," he mentioned.

"This is likely to be the experience that will influence my perspective on life and the world the most, as well as shape the opportunities that come my way."

You can watch Strictly Come Dancing on BBC iPlayer.

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