Strictly Come Dancing winner Chris McCausland celebrated until the early hours of Sunday morning as he clutched his Glitterball Trophy while leaving the show’s afterparty.
The comedian and his pro partner Dianne Buswell were crowned 2024’s champions after he made history as the show’s first ever blind contestant.
Chris, 47, pipped fellow finalists Tasha Ghouri, JB Gill and Sarah Hadland to the post in the ‘best ever’ final on Saturday, with his cheeky wit and inspiring story helping to save the show following a year of scandals.
Chris looked in great spirits as he left the afterparty alongside former pro on the show Janette Manrara and her husband Aljaž Škorjanec – who was paired with finalist Tasha on the show.
He looked casual in a beige jumper and dark trousers after changing out of his dancing gear, while Janette flashed her toned legs in a blue dress.
The final, which was the highest-scoring ever, saw all the couples each perform three dances for the judges before hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced Chris as the winner of the much sought after Glitterball trophy.
The funnyman broke down in tears as he was embraced by his fellow celebs before throwing Dianne triumphantly over his shoulder while the audience went wild.
Asked how the moment felt by Tess and Claudia, Chris said: ‘It’s astonishing, I don’t know what to say. I honestly thought I was going to go out in the first week or two and I know nobody went out in the first week but I still thought I could.
‘We’ve just lasted and lasted and [Dianne] has got so much out of me and she deserves [the trophy] so much’ as he went on to gush over her ‘positivity’ and ‘belief’.
He then joked: ‘Unless she changes her number she’s stuck with me. This is for [Dianne] and everyone out there, it just shows that with the opportunity and support anything is possible!’.
Chris gained 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 medley of dance styles to You Get What You Give by New Radicals and he recreated his viral “blackout” moment for the first dance.
Chris and Dianne also danced to their own choice of tune – Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) by John Lennon.
Speaking earlier in the show, Chris said: ‘I hope [me being on Strictly] will make a difference in people’s attitudes towards people who are blind and disabled people.
‘When I started this my daughter was really nervous, she’s eleven, and I think she fed off my fears and worries but she’s been enjoying watching me and she’s really proud.
‘I’ve learned that I am more resilient, I think It will 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 it since January when 2023 contestant Amanda Abbington first came forward with her complaints about pro partner Giovanni Pernice, Chris has brought the embattled show’s viewers bundles of joy.
The show was then hit with a fresh 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 out of Amanda’s 16 allegations when the BBC probe concluded in September but remained absent for the current edition of the series.
Following his abrupt exit from the programme, Giovanni went on to appear on the Italian version of Strictly.
Despite bosses finding Giovanni was not threatening or physically abusive, it did uphold some of Amanda’s complaints of verbal bullying and harassment.
The BBC also agreed with Amanda at times he appeared to be giving her overly negative feedback.
