Why Chris McCausland the plain-speaking blind TV comic is the tonic Strictly needs after a year of scandal

As I delve into this heartwarming tale of resilience and camaraderie, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of admiration for Chris and Dianne, two extraordinary individuals who have embarked on an unconventional dance journey. Having been blind since birth, Chris has demonstrated an uncanny ability to navigate life with grace, humor, and determination.

It wasn’t until Dianne Buswell accidentally kicked Chris McCausland in the face that the magnitude of the hurdles she encountered while dancing with her new partner truly hit home.

The blow landed without him seeing it coming. He didn’t have time to duck or even flinch.

But no, this isn’t another tale of alleged bullying and violence in the Strictly dance rehearsal studio – the like of which has plagued the Saturday night favourite for the past nine months.

In the competition, it was Chris, who unfortunately took the brunt of Dianne’s high kick and ended up with a tender cheek (thankfully without a black eye), who is visually impaired – a fact that Dianne wasn’t fully aware of yet.

In an exclusive chat with the Mail, comedian Chris, aged 47, humorously commented: ‘Perhaps Dianne suspected I was hiding something more, but honestly, I can’t see a thing – absolutely nothing. Then she accidentally kicked me in the face, and I didn’t even flinch.’

Last Saturday, Chris found himself unable to resist sharing a joke on the show. He recognized it might not be the best idea: considering that the BBC likely doesn’t find such topics amusing, as both Amanda Abbington and Zara McDermott have expressed concerns about their treatment during rehearsals by dance partners Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima – allegations they refute.

He explains that he didn’t mention his intention to the bosses since he anticipated they would advise against it. However, he thought it was amusing and felt it wasn’t something he should write down but rather share verbally.

It was. Very funny. And luckily Chris seems to have got away with it.

In the span of only a week into live competitions, the first visually impaired contestant on Strictly has garnered widespread acclaim, being dubbed as the show’s champion and potential savior.

Since January, when Amanda made her complaints, a shadow has been cast over the show, but on Saturday night, he entertained viewers with his quick humor and an impressive Cha Cha dance routine set to The Beatles’ Twist and Shout, bringing them moments of joy.

Initially, he and Dianne received 23 out of a possible 40 points, yet bookmakers swiftly reduced the chances of them winning the Glitterball from 14/1 to 7/2. This now positions him alongside the leading contenders, who include former JLS singer and television host JB Gill and his dance partner Amy Dowden.

Chris, a resident of South London, living with his wife Patricia (a psychologist) and their 11-year-old daughter Sophie, has adjusted his original plan to stay on the show for just three weeks. However, he maintains that he doesn’t stand a chance at winning.

However, some people strongly disagree. The management, in particular, are eager to replicate the charm exhibited by their initial deaf dancer, Rose Ayling-Ellis, who triumphed in the competition three years back.

To be completely honest, I almost chose not to participate due to my desire to avoid being a mere representation or token in the mix. I value authentic inclusion and participation over token appearances.

He expresses that he declined the offer multiple times because he wasn’t convinced it was feasible to accomplish it on live television. He didn’t want to be used as a token effort, a symbolic contribution that would only serve to elicit praise like “What a good try! Didn’t he do well for someone who can’t see.” He wanted to avoid any such sentiment.

Chris McCausland, the host of The Chris McCausland show on ITV, confesses that the BBC were quite insistent. After some persuasion from his own team – his agent and tour manager, who he humorously suggests were aiming to boost his visibility – he eventually relented. He admits feeling puzzled about the glitz and glamour of the show, with its sparkles and sequins, and found it hard to comprehend what the program was all about. He couldn’t appreciate the content, even when revisiting it, as he derived no personal benefit from it. He was unsure about the quality of the people involved in creating it and where he might fit into this production.

Initially, there were numerous uncertainties and potential risks that left me uncertain about whether my endeavor would succeed or end disastrously. However, over time, I learned to accept the fear associated with it.

In his twenties, Chris developed a genetic eye condition known as retinitis pigmentosa, which progressively affected his vision since birth. Initially, he struggled with seeing in low light conditions, and eventually, he lost his ability to see altogether.

Originally from Liverpool, Chris pursued a software engineering degree but later shifted to stand-up comedy. His motivation for participating stemmed from a desire to demonstrate the adaptability of visually impaired individuals.

He suggests that it’s beneficial to include representation from the visually impaired community, demonstrating their abilities to everyone else. He mentions that the unemployment rate for working-age blind individuals is approximately 70%. This implies that many people who don’t know anyone who is visually impaired may wonder things like, “How do you locate your mouth when eating?

Much of our dancing involves solving problems, similar to how blind individuals navigate their daily lives.

Despite the fact that his “Strictly” experience hasn’t been simple, as is often said. By our Thursday lunchtime conversation, Chris admits he’s exhausted and so stiff he seems like he’s slept on the floor for a month. On the brighter side, he has shed over an inch off his waistline. “Wonderful, isn’t it?” he chuckles.

But the last month of training has been gruelling. Recalling his first live dance, he said that Dianne told him he was a ‘shade of pale she had never seen before’.

With so many uncertainties looming, I found myself thinking, ‘I hope I can make it through this…’. The stroll from the stage to the dance floor felt like a march towards an execution; a long, green path.

But he pulled it off triumphantly and got a standing ovation from the audience at Elstree Studios.

Given that Chris hasn’t shown much experience with dancing other than a little impromptu moves at weddings due to alcohol, how exactly did the duo manage to pull off their performance together?

In much the same way we carry out tasks in our daily lives, Chris heavily depends on his sense of hearing and touch. A large part of this involves recognizing Dianne’s footsteps as she demonstrates, but he emphasizes that there are times when he needs to be on the floor to feel her feet directly. He goes on to remark that Dianne has calf muscles that are truly remarkable, far beyond what one might expect.

Occasionally, she needs to adjust my limb to suit her preferences, making me seem like a flexible superhero akin to Spider-Man. She’s incredible, her daring spirit and willingness to take risks are truly inspiring. She incorporates challenging elements into our routines, and we figure out how to make it work, rather than giving up with the phrase, “I can’t do it”.

There is, though, Chris explains, a difference between training in a dance studio, where there is no background noise and he can hear where Dianne is all the time, and live on television when there is music playing loudly and the audience clapping and cheering.

As soon as he understood the situation, a chilling realization swept over him. In our exercise, I was supposed to perform a cartwheel with her, lifting her by grabbing her legs and passing through each other. While we could rehearse the move, it wasn’t something we could practice without making noise.

In the end, doing it live in the studio went amazingly well. Even Sophie was impressed.

Chris says: ‘She had never watched Strictly before, so I had to show her what I’m doing. When it came to last week she was really, really nervous for me. But afterwards she was so happy.’

What about the planned transformation by the show’s styling team, which included lots of sequins and a spray tan?

Chris mentions, “I used to worry about not looking foolish, but I’ve learned to accept myself and let go of that concern. As for the spray tan, last week it wasn’t necessary since we were doing a Sixties-themed show. But if Dianne fancies giving me one this week, she can pick any color she likes.

He does have some provisos, though: ‘I’ve told them no Speedos or Mankinis.’

Despite feeling tired, the training sessions have been progressing smoothly for him, and fortunately, neither Dianne nor anyone else has inadvertently struck him in the face or any other area this past week.

The laughter pauses for a moment when I ask Chris what he misses about the visual world.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I find myself longing for the moments when I could immerse myself in a thrilling game of football, particularly supporting my beloved team, Liverpool. Watching football isn’t just about the sport itself; it’s about the camaraderie, the shared excitement, and the collective emotions that make it such an integral part of our social lives. When I can’t catch a match, I truly feel as if I’m missing out on more than just a game – it’s like a piece of my week is incomplete.

In terms of personal experience, going for a walk feels more like a burden than pleasure. It’s not relaxing; instead, it brings stress and unease.

I’ve never met my daughter Sophie personally, yet do I yearn for her companionship? Not quite in that sense, as I’ve never experienced it before. However, the game of football… that I truly miss playing with her.

Tonight when he plays his violin on Strictly Come Dancing, there’ll undoubtedly be thunderous applause from the audience. The thrill will return, and Chris will bask in the limelight, enjoying each second of it.

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2024-09-28 13:07