Chris McCausland, the star who has already won over viewers following his debut on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, has been inundated with supportive messages after expressing feelings of exclusion.
The comedian, 47, who is the first blind contestant on Strictly, made his ballroom debut alongside professional dance partner Dianne Buswell in the first live show of the 2024 series last weekend.
Following their cha cha performance to the Beatles’ hit ‘Twist And Shout’, which earned them 23 points from the judges, he was praised as “fabulous” and left Shirley Ballas feeling emotional.
Earlier this week, Dianne and Chris provided an update in their daily video series, affectionately named ‘CHRIS’S DIAnneRIES’, where they reflected on their first performance of the new series.
Dianne captioned the video: “Recap of Saturday night (Chris gets emosh). We also wanted to say a massive thank you to everybody who has left us such lovely msgs and sent so much love and positivity.”, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Dianne captioned the video: “Recap of Saturday night (Chris gets emosh). We also wanted to say a massive thank you to everybody who has left us such lovely msgs and sent so much love and positivity.”
In the beginning of the clip, Dianne can be heard telling Chris: “I’m so glad you’ve got a bit more colour in your face than when we started on Saturday,” to which he replied: “I was so ill, with fear. The fact that we got through it, it was very emotional wasn’t it.”
He finishing their first dance, saying: “I was so overwhelmed with kind of relief and emotion at the end of it, I found it difficult to speak and then all the judges said things. I don’t know what they said, I really don’t know what they said. I remember Craig going and then everyone booing and then the others.”
He continued: “And I then I hadn’t said anything…I should say something. And all I could think of was Craig got booed, so I’d just slag him off.”
Chris described the experience of being led through the backstage as “horrific”, likening it to being “fed to the lions”, yet he expressed anticipation for the upcoming live show. He has now opened up about his mixed feelings towards his involvement in the Strictly phenomenon, reports Manchester Evening News.
“It’s such a giant, enormous matching of a show that you all feel part of in a group. I’ve never been part of something so big and massive that we’re all in the same s**t together, the same boat together, but I’ve also never felt so left out at the same time,” he said.
Grasping the uncomfortable energy, Dianne expressed: “Oh I hate that feeling! ” while Chris conveyed his sensation of alienation: “Because I’m in it but I’m not in it.”
Confirming his presence, Dianne reassured, “You’re so in it Chris! ” But Chris aired his uncertainty: “But I don’t know what anyone else is doing. The music’s good but…”
Responding with empathy, Dianne said: “It makes me sad that you feel left out,” to which Chris retorted: “Well of course I do. I don’t know what anyone else is doing. It’s a visual show, isn’t it? I don’t even know what I’m doing. Like, I haven’t watched it back to say, ‘That looked good, didn’t it? ‘”.
Following an instance where Dianne experienced the routine blindfolded, mirroring Chris’ circumstances, she gained deeper respect for his efforts, posting: “CHRIS DIAnneRIES. Appreciation nation for our Chris,” sparking a torrent of adoration and encouragement.
One commented: “You are part of the dance Chris, the most special part of it all! How it feels to YOU! What’s brilliant is that you get to the heart of it all precisely because you aren’t wrapped up in the ‘show’ of it! Genuine.”
“Made me emotional hearing how chris said he feels. It really does put everything into perspective and makes you feel all sorts of feelings,” added a second.
Another posted: “That’s such a beautiful way he put it about not being in it fully. What a guy.” Meanwhile a fourth echoed: “Aww bless him Chris you are so in it!! All of us love having you in it!!”