A tearful night for new national treasure Chris McCausland… acclaimed as ‘a light that dances for all to see’ after much-loved stand -up becomes Strictly’s first blind contestant to lift the glitterball trophy

When Strictly bosses signed Liverpool comedian Chris McCausland to the high-profile show, they thought he would last two, maybe three weeks.

But last night the much-loved stand-up, the show’s first blind contestant, lifted the glitter ball before breaking down in tears and describing his win as ‘amazing’.

Paying tribute to his dance partner Dianne Buswell, he added: “I don’t know what to say. I honestly thought I was going to go out in the first two weeks and I know no one went out the first week but I thought I could still do it. We just held on and endured and she got so much out of me. And she deserves this so much.

“And this is for anyone who was told they couldn’t do something or thought they couldn’t do it, and it shows that with opportunity, support and determination, anything can happen.”

It was certainly an emotional night for McCausland as he competed against his new friends, Miranda actress Sarah Hadland, 53, singer JB Gill, 38, and Love Island star Tasha Ghouri, 26, to win the show.

He was undoubtedly the least skilled dancer of the four, but certainly the most popular. So even though he finished last night’s show at the bottom of a tight leaderboard, it was the viewers’ votes that gave him the win.

And after his final performance, a waltz to the Liverpool FC anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone by Gerry and the Pacemakers, there was a sea of ​​tears.

In what was probably the most emotional moment in Strictly’s 20-year history, McCausland and Ms Buswell cried alongside judges Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse.

The beloved stand-up lifted the glitter ball before bursting into tears and describing his win as ‘amazing’

Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell perform during the Strictly final

Even presenter Tess Daly had to fight back tears when the 47-year-old star was awarded his first 40 out of 40 on the series.

Mrs. Ballas said to him, “Well, you certainly won’t walk alone. I think the whole country will follow everything you do.”

At one point, fellow judge and Craig Revel Horwood recited a letter he had written for McCausland, calling him “a light for all to see.”

The strip has now undoubtedly achieved national treasure status. Since the show began, millions of viewers at home have voted for him so he didn’t end up in the dreaded dance-off once.

Under the watchful eye of his beloved wife Patricia, McCausland started his evening with their couple’s dance to Instant Karma (We All Shine On) by John Lennon. During the dance, the entire studio went dark for a few moments, a poignant reflection of McCausland’s world.

Mrs Mabuse, with tears streaming down her face, said: ‘Chris, I’m a mess and it’s because of you. I promised myself I won’t cry in this finale. And here I am, your first dance and all those 300 hours of makeup on my face being for nothing.”

Next was McCausland’s show dance to You Get What You Give by New Radicals. Mrs Ballas said – obviously crying –: ‘Extraordinary. You’ve broken new ground in this ballroom, you really have. About the entire series.’

The strip has now undoubtedly achieved national treasure status

McCausland and Ms Buswell wept along with judges Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse

Since the show’s inception, millions of viewers at home have voted for him

There were also warm words from Anton Du Beke. He said to McCausland: ‘Are you the best dancer we’ve ever had on Strictly Come dances? Probably not. Are you the most special person we’ve ever had? Absolute.’

McCausland’s win was fitting as audiences made it clear throughout the series that they preferred celebrities who were on a “journey” over full-fledged dancers like Ms. Ghouri.

She and Gill topped the leaderboard yesterday with 119 out of a possible 120 points. Mrs. Hadland had 118, while McCausland had 116. McCausland’s career now appears to be taking off as television executives at the BBC discuss the possibilities ahead of him.

Company bosses will also be relieved that the series ended on such a positive note, after two scandals hit the show. First Amanda Abbington claimed that Giovanni Pernice bullied her during rehearsals, which he strongly denies, and then Graziano Di Prima was fired for kicking his partner Zara McDermott.