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Strictly winner Chris McCausland celebrates until the early hours as he clutches his Glitterball Trophy while leaving show afterparty with former pro Janette Manrara

BBG News

As a lifestyle expert with extensive experience in the entertainment industry, I have to say that Chris McCausland’s victory on Strictly Come Dancing 2024 was nothing short of inspiring. Not only did he become the first ever blind contestant to win the show, but his journey throughout the competition was a testament to resilience and determination.

Chris McCausland, the victor of Strictly Come Dancing, reveled well into the wee hours of Sunday, proudly holding his Glitterball Trophy as he departed from the party following the show.

In a remarkable turn of events, the comedian, along with his professional dance partner Dianne Buswell, were named champions of the year 2024. This was significant as he became the first-ever visually impaired participant to compete on the show.

In the extraordinary finale held on Saturday, Chris, aged 47, narrowly outshone Tasha Ghouri, JB Gill, and Sarah Hadland. His charming humor and moving personal narrative significantly contributed to the show’s resurgence, as it had been grappling with various controversies throughout the past year.

At the conclusion of the afterparty, Chris departed cheerfully, accompanied by ex-contestant Janette Manrara and her spouse Aljaž Škorjanec, who had partnered with finalist Tasha during the program.

After swapping his dancing attire, he appeared relaxed in a beige sweater and dark pants, contrasting with Janette, who showcased her toned legs in a blue dress.

In this competition’s grand finale, featuring record-breaking scores, every pair showcased their skills by performing three different dances in front of the judges. Later, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman declared Chris as the victor, awarding him the coveted Glitterball trophy.

The funnyman broke down in tears as he was embraced by his fellow celebs before throwing Dianne triumphantly over his shoulder while the audience went wild.

Chris was asked about their experience by Tess and Claudia, to which he replied: ‘It’s incredible! I’m at a loss for words. Honestly, I believed I wouldn’t last beyond the first week or two, yet I thought I might even then. However, it seems nobody actually lasted that long.’

“I’ve been pushed to my limits by Dianne, and she’s extracted an incredible amount from me. She truly embodies the spirit of the trophy with her inspiring positivity and unwavering belief.

Later on, he playfully remarked, “If she doesn’t change her phone number, I’m her permanent companion. Just a reminder to Dianne and all of you – opportunities and support can make miracles happen!

As an over-the-moon admirer, I can’t help but share my exhilaration: I, myself, secured a flawless 40 points for my enchanting waltz, set to the emotional melodies of You’ll Never Walk Alone by Gerry and the Pacemakers. This dance, marking the finale of the series, left judges and spectators in a pool of tears. It was more than just a performance; it was a testament to passion and dedication.

I couldn’t help but lose myself during his performance, as he seamlessly blended various dance genres to the beats of “You Get What You Give” by New Radicals for his second act. And oh boy, did he bring back memories when he reenacted that unforgettable “blackout” moment for the opening dance!

Apart from that, Chris and Dianne grooved along to a song they picked – “Instant Karma!” (We All Shine On), by the legendary John Lennon.

During our conversation earlier, Chris expressed his hope that participating in Strictly might help shift people’s perceptions about those who are blind or have disabilities.

Initially, when I embarked on this, my daughter exhibited a lot of anxiety, being only eleven years old. I believe her feelings were influenced by mine – the apprehension and concern that I had. However, now she seems to be enjoying observing me and she’s incredibly proud.

Through my experiences, I’ve discovered that I possess greater resilience. I believe I will need much more to intimidate me going forward, and I understand now that something doesn’t necessarily need to be flawless to achieve success.

Despite the controversy surrounding him since Amanda Abbington spoke up in January, Chris has managed to bring a lot of happiness to viewers of the struggling show in 2023.

The show faced a new round of controversy when Love Island star Zara McDermott’s partner, Graziano Di Prima, was dismissed in July following allegations that he had physically harmed her (by kicking).

In September, the BBC investigation found that ten of the sixteen accusations against Giovanni were unfounded. However, he has been absent from the most recent installment of the series.

After abruptly leaving the show, Giovanni subsequently made an appearance on the Italian adaptation of Dancing with the Stars.

Although Giovanni wasn’t deemed threatening or physically abusive, he did validate some of Amanda’s allegations regarding verbal intimidation and harassment.

The BBC also agreed with Amanda at times he appeared to be giving her overly negative feedback. 

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2024-12-15 12:33

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