Chris McCausland, the Liverpool comedian who made history as Strictly Come Dancing's first blind contestant, has seen his schedule turn upside down due to the show's success. Alongside dance partner Dianne Buswell, Chris has charmed audiences with his awe-inspiring performances and is now tipped as a favourite to win the glitterball trophy in Saturday 14 December's grand finale.
Speaking with the Liverpool Echo, Chris confessed he was initially unsure how his Strictly journey would unfold and whether he'd be a hit on the dance floor. He said: "When I came into it, I wanted to surprise people, surprise myself and do more than people would think is possible, but that was a pipedream."
"There was a chance that it could be a disaster. There was a very real possibility that I could have gone out in the first round. But it's worked and that's not just because of me. It's worked because Dianne has been willing to take risks and been willing to put the hours in."
The comic went on to say, "We haven't tried to pare it back or dumb it down. We've really tried to wow people and do impressive things. People have loved it and it's all worked so far, but it's surprised me as much as anyone else."
Amidst the excitement, Chris had to bow out from a planned performance at London's Comedy Store on Wednesday night since he needs to gear up for the Strictly final, with the venue confirming his absence. The event, marking Steve Gribbin's 40-year comedic legacy, saw the Scouse comedian express his support for Chris's absence: "We shall miss @chrismccausland but we wish him every success in @bbcstrictly on Saturday! We have the fabulous Imran Yusuf who has stepped into the breach tonight!!! So looking forward to this whole evening!!!" The night boasted big names like Harry Hill, Jack Dee, and Angela Barnes, all performing to support the Alzheimer's Society.
Chris echoed the charitable spirit, sharing Steve's post along with his own heartfelt words: "Yes, I am really sorry about this. I never in a million years expected to be in the strictly final. What a brilliant evening of stand-up though! Congratulations Gribbo, what an achievement. 40 years and still as fresh and brilliant as ever!"
As he gears up for the Strictly finale, Chris is set to perform three dances with partner Dianne, including a Waltz to You'll Never Walk Alone that previously moved audiences earlier in the season. Chris, an avid Liverpool FC supporter, became emotional during rehearsals for the final dance. He explained: "We rehearsed the waltz and I realised this is going to be the last dance that we do and I imagined it all being over on Saturday and it being the last time that we dance on the show and it upset me."
Balancing Strictly with his hectic schedule has proven challenging for Chris, who unfortunately won't be able to participate in the show's live tour due to his prior touring commitments.
A spokesperson revealed to Mirror Online: "Chris has already shifted the dates of his tour to do Strictly and that wasn't an easy thing to do. There were a lot of disappointed people and it was stressful - we got a lot of messages. They continued: "So he couldn't move them again, absolutely not. Everyone has been very straight about this all the way along the line. It's a great shame, because he'd love to do the tour, but Chris is not available. He said at the point of signing up that he wouldn't be able to do it, that it wasn't going to be possible, it was always clear."
The spokesperson added: "The lovely thing is no one could have foreseen just how well it was going to go for him on Strictly. No one thought he'd get this far. But having already moved his tour dates once to accommodate the show, he is unable to do it again. His own tour was pre-planned and came first. There's no way it can be moved for a second time, that just wouldn't be fair on his fans. "
The Strictly Come Dancing Live tour is set to dazzle audiences at the M&S Bank Arena on January 28 and 29, with Sarah Hadland, Shayne Ward, and Montell Douglas confirmed to strut their stuff on the dance floor.
Meanwhile, Chris' skyrocketing fame has led him to extend his stand-up comedy tour until 2026.
