When Strictly bosses signed Liverpudlian comedian Chris McCausland to appear on the high-profile show, they thought he would last two weeks, maybe three.
But last night, the much-loved stand-up, the show’s first blind contestant, lifted the glitterball before bursting into tears and describing his victory as ‘astonishing.’
Paying tribute to his dance partner Dianne Buswell, he added: ‘I don’t know what to say. I honestly thought I’d go out in the first week or two and I know no one went out in the first week but I thought I still could. We’ve just lasted and lasted and she has got so much out of me. And she deserves this so much.
‘And this is for everyone out there who got told they couldn’t do something or thought they couldn’t do it and it just shows with opportunity and support and determination, anything can happen.’
It certainly was an emotional evening for McCausland as he took on 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 able dancer of the four but for sure the most popular. So even though he ended last night’s show bottom of a tight leaderboard, it was the viewers’ votes that brought him victory.
And following his final performance, a waltz to 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 sobbed along with judges Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse.
Even host Tess Daly had to resist crying as the 47-year-old star was given his first 40 out of 40 of the series.
Ms Ballas told him: ‘Well you certainly won’t walk alone. I think the whole country will be following every single thing that you do.’
At one point fellow judge and Craig Revel Horwood recited a letter he’d written for McCausland, calling him ‘a light that shines for all to see’.
The comic has undoubtedly reached the status of national treasure now. Viewers at home have been voting for him in their millions since the beginning of the show, ensuring that he didn’t once find himself in the dreaded dance-off.
Watched by his beloved wife Patricia, McCausland began his night with their couple’s choice dance to Instant Karma (We All Shine On) by John Lennon. During the dance, for a few moments the whole studio went dark, a poignant mirroring of McCausland’s world.
Ms Mabuse, who had tears streaming down her face, said: ‘Chris, I’m a mess and that’s because of you. I promised myself I will not cry in this final. And here I am, your first dance and all the 300 hours of makeup on my face was for nothing.’
Next was McCausland’s showdance to You Get What You Give by New Radicals. Ms Ballas – crying, of course – said: ‘Extraordinary. You’ve broken new ground in this ballroom, you seriously have. Across the whole series.’
There were warm words from Anton Du Beke, too. He told McCausland: ‘Are you the best dancer we’ve ever had on Strictly Come dancing? Probably not. Are you the most extraordinary person we’ve ever had? Absolutely.’
McCausland’s victory was fitting given that over the series the audience made it clear they preferred celebrities who were on the ‘journey’ rather than fully fledged dancers, such as Ms Ghouri.
She and Gill topped the leaderboard yesterday with 119 out of 120 possible points. Ms Hadland had 118 while McCausland managed a 116. McCausland’s career now looks set soar with television executives at the BBC discussing presenting opportunities for him.
Corporation bosses will also be relieved the series ended on such a positive note, following two scandals that hit the show. First Amanda Abbington claimed Giovanni Pernice bullied her during rehearsals, which he profusely denies, and then Graziano Di Prima was sacked for kicking his partner Zara McDermott.