For 10 interminable seconds on Saturday evening TV, the lights went out. Fortunately, it was deliberate. The Couple’s Selection routine carried out on Strictly Come Dancing by blind comic Chris McCausland included a “blackout second”, the place he danced at the hours of darkness to immerse viewers in his sightless world. It was a strong and poignant interlude which was hailed by the judges as “completely spectacular”.
This spine-tingling piece of tv was harking back to the silent dance carried out by actor Rose Ayling-Ellis, the present’s first deaf participant, in 2021. That routine can be voted Bafta’s Should-See Second – in addition to garnering a spot in our personal corridor of hoofing fame – and Ayling-Ellis went on to elevate the glitterball trophy.
Properly, we’re calling it now. This yr’s grand closing is perhaps greater than a month away however McCausland will do the identical, dancing to victory on a wave of positivity. Within the course of, he may simply assist save all the Strictly franchise.
All summer time, the BBC scores juggernaut was mired in scandal. Two male professionals, Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, left below a cloud following complaints from their superstar companions of abusive behaviour. A BBC spokesperson confirmed that Zara McDermott had been kicked by Di Prima, whereas the BBC upheld Amanda Abbington’s accusation of verbal bullying by Pernice. Impartial inquiries had been launched. Safeguarding measures had been launched.
For some time there, the mirrorball misplaced its shine. There was even hypothesis that the present collection may not go forward in any respect. When it launched as deliberate in September, the sector had a noticeable gender skew, with 9 male celebrities however solely six females – a sign that producers had discovered it more durable than standard to forged ladies.
Immediately, all eyes had been on the ballroom, alert for any signal of hassle. After which got here the “handgate” incident between opera singer Wynne Evans and his dance accomplice Katya Jones, the place she brushed his hand away as he put it round her waist, earlier than snubbing his tried high-five. The couple later mentioned they did it as a joke, however not earlier than the naysayers pounced, gleefully declaring that the BBC’s flagship franchise was lifeless.
Nevertheless, they reckoned with out the impressed casting of McCausland. Paired with irrepressible Australian skilled dancer Dianne Buswell, his infectious humour and miraculous progress have helped Strictly restore its popularity. To the shock of everybody, particularly himself, the primary ever blind contestant has grow to be the ballroom blockbuster’s breakout star.
As a consequence of a hereditary situation, retinitis pigmentosa, McCausland misplaced his sight utterly at age 22, selling a change of profession route. He tried standup at open mic nights in his mid-20s and is now a panel-show common. I used to be fortunate sufficient to interview him final yr and he advised me: “I’m an in a single day success, 20 years within the making.”
Unveiled as a part of the Strictly 2024 lineup, McCausland received in all of the self-deprecating gags first. The 47-year-old mentioned he “didn’t know a pasodoble from a panna cotta”, joked concerning the BBC taking out further insurance coverage in opposition to breakages and admitted that his 10-year-old daughter was nervous he’d fall off stage on primetime TV.
As an alternative, he’s creating on-screen magic. McCausland advised me that blindness “doesn’t a lot heighten your different senses as make you pay extra consideration to them”. He depends on listening to, contact and muscle reminiscence to study routines. Buswell has demonstrated persistence and creativeness with regards to multisensory educating methods. She wore a blindfold in rehearsals to raised recognize what her accomplice faces. The belief between the pair has created true connection and chemistry.
BBC producers supplied to maintain the viewers quiet throughout his stay dances so McCausland may nonetheless hear Buswell within the noisy studio. He graciously declined. “I need the group to be entertained and never have the electrical environment flattened to accommodate me,” he insisted.
Week after week, he has wowed viewers by combining assured showmanship with unforgiving choreography. His first full routine – a Beatles cha cha by which he used Buswell’s leg as an air guitar and slid throughout the ground on his knees – was a revelation. Choose Anton Du Beke referred to as it “some of the extraordinary issues I’ve seen in my total life”.
McCausland went viral for his waltz to Liverpool anthem You’ll By no means Stroll Alone, transferring head choose Shirley Ballas to tears when he walked solo throughout the dancefloor into Dianne’s arms. As a vinyl junkie and metalhead, he rocked the ballroom with a Wayne’s World-themed jive and a Kiss tango. Every week, specialists are flabbergasted by how the couple do it – not least their fearless, flawlessly executed lifts.
Then got here Saturday’s crowd-pleaser – a jazzy musical theatre quantity, carried out in white high hat and tails, set to On the spot Karma! (We All Shine On) by fellow scouser John Lennon. McCausland described it as a bid to “characterize the blind neighborhood, displaying them that extra is feasible and everybody can shine as brightly as one another”.
Crucially, he refuses to take all of it too severely. When Strictly was attracting front-page headlines, many appeared to overlook that this simply was a star dancing competitors. Together with his laconic wit and rapid-fire repartee, McCausland treats Strictly as what it’s: escapist gentle leisure. He teases Buswell and solutions again to the judges. He advised Craig Revel Horwood: “I’ll drive you dwelling tonight!” He went hilariously off-script within the first stay present, telling fellow contestant Dr Punam Krishan: “None of us can consider we’ve received in the identical room as a GP.”
The Liverpudlian comedian is presently odds-on favorite to win with bookies. Just about each eradicated contestant has tipped him to triumph. He tops unofficial votes and on-line polls each week. He will get probably the most raucous reception within the Elstree Studios ballroom every Saturday – not least as a result of, after 20 years on the comedy circuit, he is aware of find out how to work a crowd.
Greater than two million individuals within the UK stay with sight loss. McCausland has been proudly flying the flag, displaying what’s doable, defying stereotypes and altering conversations round incapacity. The Royal Nationwide Institute of Blind Individuals has welcomed this, saying: “It’s sensible to see higher illustration of individuals with disabilities on actuality exhibits. It’s clear the optimistic influence this will have.”
McCausland himself advised me: “I’ve at all times believed in illustration inside the mainstream. Integration slightly than segregation.” It doesn’t get far more mainstream than Saturday nights beneath the glitterball.
Certain, there are higher dancers on this yr’s contest. Love Island’s Tasha Ghouri is the standout, though she falls into the class of “too good”, at all times a cardinal Strictly sin. Ghouri is perhaps the competition’s high scorer by far – averaging three factors per dance greater than anybody else – however she’s unlikely to safe sufficient public votes. Miranda actor Sarah Hadland would even be a worthy winner in another yr.
McCausland seems poised to beat each to the title. Like in style 2020 champion Invoice Bailey, he’s a middle-aged funnyman with innate musicality, impish humour and the underdog issue all wrapped up in a single grin-inducing bundle. Simply as Bailey’s victory was a tonic throughout Covid lockdown, McCausland’s win would come as welcome aid amid autumn’s grim information cycle.
Two-time finalist Buswell can also be overdue a win. Having completed runner-up with earlier companions Joe Sugg and Bobby Brazier, she can be a deserving professional champion. When she and McCausland elevate the glitterball trophy on 14 December, as they certainly will, it can present a dose of sheer pleasure. The euphoria may assist Strictly Come Dancing transcend the bullying allegations and restore its feelgood think about its landmark twentieth yr. Not unhealthy for “a fella who sits on a stool for a residing”.
