Strictly's Chris McCausland gives first insight into training when blind - 'we're figuring it out together'

Virgin Radio

9 Sep 2024, 08:25

With Strictly Come Dancing returning this week, its stars have been speaking about preparing for the contest.

The hit BBC series returns for its 20th anniversary year this Saturday, 14th September, and one of the celebrities taking part is blind comedian Chris McCausland.

His was the first name to be officially revealed in August, and he has now spoken to virginradio.co.uk and other press ahead of making his debut on the show this weekend.

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The comedian will make history as the show's first ever blind contestant, and he has spoken about working with his (as-yet unannounced) professional partner.  

“The point is for my partner to learn how to teach me, and me to learn how to dance from her and us to figure that out together.”

He added: “We'll make mistakes, and we'll have a laugh along the way.”

Continuing, Chris told us: “I'm all I'm all up for blundering my way through it and having some fun along the way.”

Interjecting at the press event, another contestant, former Team GB hockey gold medalist Sam Quek told us that Chris was “doing himself an injustice”. 

She said: “You're saying ‘blundering your way through it’, but what we've seen so far in rehearsals, honestly, it's been amazing to watch you just keep up with everyone. A smile on your face, you've just been a key character as well.” 

Chris also admitted that his knowledge of Strictly isn’t massively strong. “This is all new to me,” he said. “I only found out a few weeks ago that they did spray tans on this. And I thought that that just must be one of the weeks. I thought there was a spray tan week! That's how clueless I've been.”

Back when he was announced as a contestant, the stand-up said in a statement: "If anybody out there is thinking: 'How the hell is he going to do that?' then rest assured that I am thinking exactly the same thing."

Meanwhile, another contestant, Nick Knowles, has opened up about his Strictly Come Dancing experience so far, and it’s fair to say, it’s been a bit of a shock to the system.

Describing himself as “elated and knackered,” he said: “It is the most fabulous experience with the most fabulous people, but it’s also one of the toughest things that I’ve ever tried to do.”

You can see a full list of the class of Strictly Come Dancing 2024 here. 

Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One at 7:20pm on Saturday 14th September.