Chris McCausland’s Brazilian firecracker wife who talked the blind comedian into signing up to Strictly and giving the performance of his life

Chris McCausland's Brazilian firecracker wife who talked the blind comedian into signing up to Strictly and giving the performance of his life

As a spectator of Strictly Come Dancing for many years, I have seen countless contestants take to the dance floor with varying degrees of success. However, this season, there is one couple that has truly captivated my heart – Chris Ramsey and his partner, Dianne Buswell.

There were whoops of joy among BBC bosses when Chris McCausland agreed to sign up to Strictly. 

Ultimately, following numerous attempts, they found their comedic and endearing contestant who was visually impaired.

It was believed that he would only stay for a short while, adding some enjoyable moments to the program that, when Chris joined, was embroiled in a heated argument between Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice.

It’s fair to say the scandal had cast a black cloud over the much-loved series.

47-year-old Chris, originally from Liverpool and blind since his twenties due to an inherited condition known as retinitis pigmentosa, found himself at a significant crossroads.

Could he bring shame upon himself? Could he become an object of ridicule? Above all, might he disappoint the visually impaired community, a group he takes great pride in being part of?

Initially, he didn’t perform any of those actions. In reality, though, things took an unexpected turn: He has become the clear frontrunner to win the sparkling trophy at tonight’s grand finale instead.

I can’t help but express my gratitude to a remarkable woman – Chris’s cherished spouse, Patricia. It was her relentless encouragement that propelled Chris into this amazing programme. Meanwhile, our beloved 11-year-old Sophie held a contrasting view, apprehensive that her dear Daddy might endure harm in the process.

Chris McCausland's Brazilian firecracker wife who talked the blind comedian into signing up to Strictly and giving the performance of his life

Chris McCausland's Brazilian firecracker wife who talked the blind comedian into signing up to Strictly and giving the performance of his life
Chris McCausland's Brazilian firecracker wife who talked the blind comedian into signing up to Strictly and giving the performance of his life

Patricia will be there, discreetly, in the audience, cheering her husband on.  

My friend shared that Patricia consistently trusts Chris. Even when he was anxious about not giving his all in the competition, she never questioned his abilities.

She tends to keep her personal life quiet and shies away from attention, yet her silence should not deceive you; she has been a constant support alongside him throughout his journey. In essence, she serves as his pillar of strength.

The story of their love blossomed in 2005, when he was just starting out as a comedian at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

He encountered Patricia Mazure – a TV producer for Sky, hailing from Brazil yet relocated to the UK at an early age – while she was working on a television program about the festival.

After the filming ended, a strong bond formed instantly between them, leading them to spend increasingly more hours together once they returned to London.

Back in 2010, when I found myself captivated by the enchanting Patricia, our bond deepened through a mutual passion for music, particularly Pearl Jam. So much so, that when Chris escorted me to their performance at London’s Hyde Park, I couldn’t help but make a silent vow: If they played our favorite track, Black, I would seize the moment to pop the question.

They did, and she said yes – right there in the middle of the gig. Three years later, Chris became a father after Patricia gave birth to Sophie.

Chris McCausland's Brazilian firecracker wife who talked the blind comedian into signing up to Strictly and giving the performance of his life

Chris wasn’t certain about taking on the role of a father. He expressed his doubts by saying: “The concept of being a parent and all the things I wouldn’t do well, all the activities my dad used to do with me as a child, made me wonder: ‘Can I handle it all? I’m not going to be a good dad; I’ll be a sort-of dad.’ And this thought troubled me greatly.

However, Patricia boosted his confidence, and currently, they reside in a modern residential complex within Surbiton, situated in south-west London, not too distant from Kingston University, where Chris pursued computer engineering studies.

Initially, Chris found parenthood incredibly challenging due to his blindness, but he eventually adapted and managed to make it work. As he puts it, “my daughter has never known anything other than me not being able to see.

‘She discovered that by indicating objects, she could interact with my wife and I. This is how she managed to communicate with us.’

The couple married in 2012, and next year will celebrate 20 years together.

Chris remarks about his wife: “She and I are quite different, yet similar. She might seem very British to others, but she’s actually Brazilian. This isn’t meant as a criticism, but her life, much like the culture in Brazil, is full of vibrant chaos – a quality Brazilians take pride in.

In Portuguese, she’ll chat with her mom multiple times, and afterward, I might inquire, “Everything alright? Seemed like a terrible disagreement.” However, I discover that they were merely discussing their plans for the day.

She possesses an infectious enthusiasm that pushed me beyond my usual bounds, and I seem to amuse her. I served as a soothing influence in her life, which she found appealing; it was something she lacked.

Chris McCausland's Brazilian firecracker wife who talked the blind comedian into signing up to Strictly and giving the performance of his life

Tonight, Chris will compete against Love Island’s Tasha Ghouri, Miranda’s Sarah Hadland, and singer JB Gill in the finals.

A significant portion of his success can be attributed to his professional dance partner, Dianne Buswell. She skillfully adapted their training sessions to accommodate Chris, as he navigated the dance moves by touch. Furthermore, she helped him visualize the dance by describing its appearance.

Despite a few hiccups along the way, it turned out that Chris had shared an incident from early on in the series where the Australian dancer unintentionally kicked him in the face during practice, as he hadn’t seen her foot approaching.

Regardless of what actions she took, they proved successful: she never found herself among the bottom two (those who must perform a dance-off every week), and since tonight’s voting is in the hands of the public (with judges’ scores being irrelevant), it’s expected that she will take home the victory.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d put it this way: “I’m excited to share that Chris and Dianne will be revisiting their Week Eight Couple’s Choice dance, set to the soulful tunes of John Lennon’s ‘Instant Karma (We All Shine On)’. But the real highlight is their final dance – a moving waltz. The song they’ve chosen, ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, by Gerry And The Pacemakers, holds a special significance for Chris, as it’s an anthem from his hometown of Liverpool.

Perhaps the most enchanting instant occurred during their American Smooth dance at Blackpool, as polished Chris, attired in formal wear, gracefully guided Dianne, captivating everyone with poise and elegance. Their performance earned them a 37 out of 40 from the judges – their personal best score.

After that, they did a skit inspired by Wayne’s World, where they donned costumes based on characters from the 1992 American comedy film. The crowd couldn’t stop laughing.

Chris McCausland's Brazilian firecracker wife who talked the blind comedian into signing up to Strictly and giving the performance of his life

Just like he’s conquered his physical limitations, Chris has shared that he’s discovered a method to connect with Sophie despite his visual impairment.

As a computer engineer, he passionately explained how he managed to create a method to animate her image with the help of artificial intelligence.

He snaps photographs of Sophie, employing advanced tech to not just capture the images but also analyze them, providing details about her actions, activities, and facial expressions.

It’s clear that this technology is intended to record her response as Chris takes his last step on the Strictly dance floor.

This week, he shared with me that Sophie expressed her pride in our accomplishments. Every Saturday, she adds, “It’s fine if you go out, Daddy, as I believe you’ve already won.

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2024-12-14 03:33

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