Strictly Come Dancing final: Winner of glitterball trophy announced

Winners Crowned In Glamorous Live Finale

This article discusses the results of the Strictly final.

Catch the announcement of the winners for Strictly 2024!

Comedian Chris McCausland, who made history as the first blind contestant on Strictly Come Dancing, has been named the champion for this year.

The 47-year-old triumphed over JLS member JB Gill, actress Sarah Hadland, and former Love Island star Tasha Ghouri to claim the glitterball trophy during Saturday's live finale on BBC One.

McCausland, the top pick among bookmakers to take the title, showcased three dances alongside his partner Dianne Buswell.

He dedicated his victory to her, emphasizing that it was also for everyone who has been told they weren’t capable of achieving something or who doubted their own abilities.

"It really demonstrates that with the right opportunities, assistance, and perseverance, anything is possible," he continued.

As is customary, the judges selected one of the dances for the grand finale, picked another based on their personal favorite from the series, and included a third dance that showcased a special performance.

The judges provided their recommendations, but it was ultimately the audience that determined the outcome.

The contenders for the 2024 season of Strictly Come Dancing.

In the grand finale, McCausland, 47, and Buswell showcased their performances, featuring a waltz set to "You'll Never Walk Alone" by Gerry and the Pacemakers.

The duo also performed their couple's choice dance again, featuring the song "Instant Karma" by John Lennon.

When they debuted the performance last month, it quickly took off on social media due to a “blackout moment” meant to replicate McCausland’s experience of being blind.

They recreated that moment in the championship finale, astonished the judges, and received a score of 38.

"Chris, you've really thrown me off balance, and I promised myself I wouldn't get emotional during this final," said judge Motsi Mabuse, as she dried her eyes.

McCausland became officially blind after slowly losing his vision due to retinitis pigmentosa during his twenties and thirties. He is the first contestant with blindness to appear on the BBC program.

Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell showcased three different dances that evening.

The victorious pair encountered tough rivalry from the other couples still in the running—JB Gill and Lauren Oakley, Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec, as well as Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola.

Gill and Oakley were the first ones to hit the dance floor.

The duo showcased their skills with a variety of performances, featuring a Show Dance set to a Motown medley and a Viennese Waltz accompanied by "Let's Go Fly A Kite" from Mary Poppins.

The latter earned the highest scores of the evening, receiving perfect 10s from the judges.

This occurred after the singer's initial dance partner, Amy Dowden, had to withdraw from the competition last month because of a foot injury.

JB Gill performed with Lauren Oakley after his original partner had to withdraw due to an injury.

Next, it was Ghouri and Škorjanec's turn to perform again. They showcased their American Smooth routine, dancing to "Someone You Loved" by Lewis Capaldi.

They also put on a dance performance to the song "Sing, Sing, Sing" by Benny Goodman.

Ghouri is the second deaf participant on Strictly, following Rose Ayling-Ellis's victory three years ago.

A touching moment occurred when her brother unexpectedly showed up after just returning from Australia.

"I can't put it into words," he replied, embracing her tightly. "Chase after your dreams. You're truly one of a kind."

Tasha Ghouri, seen here alongside her dance partner Aljaž Škorjanec.

In the end, Hadland and Coppola showcased their skills with a performance that featured a Cha Cha set to Madonna's "Like A Prayer."

They also performed an American Smooth, achieving a score of 39 out of 40, even though Coppola experienced a wardrobe mishap.

Gill and Ghouri finished at the top of the final leaderboard, each scoring 119 points. They were closely followed by Hadland with 118 points, and McCausland with 116 points.

After weeks filled with tangos, salsas, and foxtrots, it was finally McCausland and Buswell's moment to shine as they garnered the most votes from the audience.

A charity has commended McCausland's victory, stating that it will "result in greater inclusion of individuals with disabilities in major television programs."

Steven Morris, who is both deaf and blind, and works as a campaigns officer for the disability charity Sense, stated: "Chris's remarkable victory on Strictly Come Dancing proves that when disabled individuals are provided with the right opportunities and support, they can overcome obstacles that many mistakenly believe are insurmountable."

He mentioned, "This is a significant milestone for visibility and representation."

Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola managed to leave a strong impression on the judges.

Another standout moment of the evening was an incredible dance performance featuring the professional dancers from Strictly, who teamed up with singer Raye, known for her hit song "Worth It."

The complete roster for 2024 returned for an additional performance.

The show's 20th anniversary has brought many unexpected events and changes.

One of the standout moments was when Bollywood music filled the ballroom as contestant Punam Krishan and her partner Gorka Márquez performed to "Bole Chudiyan," a song from the famous 2001 movie Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.

This marked the first occasion in the show's history that a couple competing has danced to a classic Bollywood track.

There was also some drama when dancer Katya Jones seemingly shifted her partner Wynne Evans's hand away from her waist.

She later remarked that it was "absurd" for her to feel uneasy about that moment in any way.

This followed a challenging summer for the series, as several past celebrity participants shared their experiences on Strictly.

The BBC has issued an apology to Amanda Abbington and supported several of her complaints regarding her 2023 dance partner Giovanni Pernice, which included accusations of verbal abuse and harassment. However, they found him not guilty of the more severe allegations.

The company also implemented new safety measures, which involve having chaperones present during rehearsals.

The series kicked off this September, featuring 15 famous personalities in the competition. Notable participants include Nick Knowles, the host of DIY SOS, Olympian and Gladiator Montell Douglas, and Tom Dean, a three-time Olympic gold medalist.

The cast of the show included EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick, 1980s pop sensation Toyah Willcox, and singer Shayne Ward.

The panel of judges for the series included Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood, and Motsi Mabuse.

The winner of the 2023 competition was Coppola, along with Ellie Leach, known for her role in Coronation Street.