Strictly Come Dancing winner Chris McCausland celebrated into the early hours of Sunday morning as he clutched his Glitterball Trophy as he left the show’s after-party.
The comedian and his professional partner Dianne Buswell were crowned 2024 champions after he made history as the show’s first ever blind contestant.
Chris, 47, dispatched fellow finalists Tasha Ghouri, JB Gill and Sarah Hadland in the ‘best ever’ final on Saturday, with his cheeky humor and inspiring story helping save the show after a year of scandal.
Chris looked in good spirits as he left the afterparty with the show’s former pro Janette Manrara and her husband Aljaž Škorjanec – who was linked to finalist Tasha during the show.
He looked casual in a beige jumper and dark trousers after changing out of his dance clothes, while Janette showed off her toned legs in a blue dress.
The highest-scoring final ever saw all the couples perform three dances each for the judges before presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced Chris as the winner of the coveted Glitterball trophy.
Strictly Come Dancing winner Chris McCausland partied into the early hours of Sunday morning as he clutched his Glitterball Trophy as he left the show’s after-party
The comedian and his professional partner Dianne Buswell were crowned 2024 champions after he made history as the show’s first ever blind contestant
Chris, 47, toppled fellow finalists Tasha Ghouri, JB Gill and Sarah Hadland in the ‘best ever’ final on Saturday, with his cheeky humor and inspiring story helping save the show after a year of scandal
The funnyman burst into tears as he was hugged by his fellow celebrities before triumphantly throwing Dianne over his shoulder as the crowd went wild.
When asked by Tess and Claudia how the moment felt, Chris said: ‘It’s amazing, I don’t know what to say. I honestly thought I was going to date for the first week or two and I know no one went out the first week, but I still thought I could do it.
‘We just endured and endured and [Dianne] has gotten so much out of me and she deserves that [the trophy] so much,” as he then gushed over her “positivity” and “faith.”
He then joked, “Unless she changes her number, she’s stuck with me.” This is for [Dianne] and everyone out there, it just goes to show that with the opportunity and support, anything is possible!’.
Chris achieved his first perfect score of 40 points for a waltz to You’ll Never Walk Alone by Gerry and the Pacemakers, which was his final dance of the series and left the judges and viewers in tears.
His second routine was a mash-up of dance styles to New Radicals’ You Get What You Give and he recreated his viral ‘blackout’ moment for the first dance.
Chris and Dianne also danced to their own tune – Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) by John Lennon.
Earlier in the show, Chris said: “I hope so [me being on Strictly] will make a difference in people’s attitudes towards the blind and disabled.
Chris looked in good spirits as he left the afterparty alongside the show’s former pro Janette Manrara – who is married to Aljaž Škorjanec who was linked to finalist Tasha on the show
He looked his best as he headed home after the epic win on Saturday night
The funnyman burst into tears as he was hugged by his fellow celebrities before triumphantly throwing Dianne over his shoulder as the crowd went wild
‘When I started this, my daughter was very nervous, she is eleven, and I think she fed my fears and worries, but she enjoyed watching me and she is very proud.
“I’ve learned that I’m more resilient, I think it’s going to take a lot more to scare me in the future and something doesn’t have to be perfect to be a success.
With a dark cloud hanging over her since January 2023, when contestant Amanda Abbington first came forward with her complaints about professional partner Giovanni Pernice, Chris has brought bundles of joy to viewers of the controversial show.
The show was then hit by a new wave of scandal when Graziano Di Prima was sacked in July for ‘kicking’ his partner, Love Island star Zara McDermott.
Giovanni was cleared of ten of Amanda’s sixteen allegations when the BBC investigation concluded in September, but remained absent for the current edition of the series.
After his abrupt departure from the programme, Giovanni appeared in the Italian version of Strictly.
Despite bosses finding Giovanni not to be threatening or physically abusive, a number of Amanda’s complaints of verbal bullying and intimidation were upheld.
The BBC also sometimes agreed with Amanda that it seemed like he was giving her overly negative feedback.
When asked by Tess and Claudia how the moment felt, Chris said: ‘It’s amazing, I don’t know what to say. I honestly thought I was going out the first week.”