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Chris McCausland's journey from salesman to Strictly winner

2024-12-16 06:00:07

Comedian Chris McCausland has won the 22nd series of Strictly Come Dancing after beating 14 other celebrities to this year's glitterball trophy.

He has been praised throughout the series for defying expectations of what a blind person can achieve on the dancefloor.

McCausland, 47, was registered blind after losing his sight to retinitis pigmentosa in his 20s.

But who is the man who has charmed viewers of the Saturday night dancing competition?

McCausland was born in 1977 in Liverpool, but moved to south-west London in the mid-1990s to study software engineering at Kingston University.

After graduating, he became a software developer, but had to change careers when his eyesight deteriorated.

He told the i newspaper in 2023 that he had lost his sight completely by the age of 22, from a hereditary condition called retinitis pigmentosa, which his grandmother and mother also had.

His condition means the light sensitive cells of his retinas gradually deteriorated until he could no longer see.

"Basically, I'd been going blind very slowly since I was born, and so didn't even really notice it happening - like the frog in the pan of boiling water," he said.

His next job was in sales, which was "really boring stuff" and "just filling the time until I figured out what I properly wanted to do", he told the Liverpool Echo in 2016.

The turning point came when McCausland was 26.

"I got shingles and was signed off from work for two weeks," he said.

"I was bored out of my head and as a dare from myself I decided to have a go at stand-up."

That first comedy gig went so well that he got "the stand-up bug", he said, and he's been doing it ever since.

McCausland was Strictly Come Dancing's first blind contestant

One of this year's standout Strictly moments was his and Buswell's dance to Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) by John Lennon.

The pair briefly performed in the dark, to show the judges and audience what is was like for McCausland on the show.

Judge Craig Revel Horwood described it as the "poignant blackout moment" and "absolutely spectacular".

The pair performed the same dance again in the final, along with other routines to You Get What You Give by New Radicals and You'll Never Walk Alone by Gerry and the Pacemakers.

Speaking before the final about his relationship with Buswell, who has reached the final twice before, McCausland said: "They [Strictly bosses] knew that Dianne would be the best partner for me. In terms of her humour, outlook on life, just the similarities between us and her communication.

"I think they just knew how good we would work together, so I'm grateful for that."

He has also entertained viewers with his quick-witted quips during interviews.

After 20 years as a rising star of comedy, McCausland's Strictly success has now secured his place as one of Britain's most popular TV personalities.