Chris McCausland may have waltzed his way to victory on Strictly Come Dancing, but his journey to the glitterball trophy was anything but easy. 

The blind comedian, 47, recently opened up about the physical toll the show took on him, revealing that one of his worst injuries didn’t even come from training for a routine. 

Instead, he was left “ripped apart” after attempting a TikTok-inspired move with his professional partner, Dianne Buswell.

Appearing on The Jonathan Ross Show, Chris shared insight into the intense demands of Strictly training, 

the emotional moment he was crowned champion, and why he has no plans to take on Dancing on Ice.

The Physical Toll of Strictly

Winning Strictly Come Dancing requires more than just rhythm and charisma—it demands grueling hours in the training room. Chris admitted that the rigorous schedule came as a shock. “You start like you’re an athlete, but you’re not an athlete. It’s eight hours a day, six days a week—it’s relentless,” he explained.

Each dance brought new challenges, with his body feeling the effects almost immediately. “The first few weeks, you pick up injuries that relate to the dance you’re doing. The jive makes you feel like you’ve been on a mule for a week, and your knees take a beating when you start ballroom,” he said. Despite the intensity, Chris marveled at how few contestants suffer lasting injuries. “It’s amazing more people don’t get injured permanently on that show.”

A Painful TikTok Mishap

When asked about his worst injury on the show, Chris revealed that it wasn’t actually from a Strictly routine—it was the result of trying a viral TikTok move.

Dianne Buswell, known for her high-energy choreography, spotted a move online and decided to give it a go with Chris. Unfortunately, it didn’t go as planned. “I had to pull her vertical body up straight, and it literally ripped me apart from my left a* cheek to my right shoulder,”* he recalled, sparking laughter from Jonathan Ross and the audience.

An Emotional Victory

Chris made history as the first blind contestant to win Strictly Come Dancing, triumphing in what many called one of the most competitive finales in the show’s history. He and Dianne beat out Love Island’s Tasha Ghouri, singer JB Gill, and actress Sarah Hadland to take home the trophy in December.

Recalling the moment his name was announced, Chris admitted it was overwhelming. “It was emotional, Jonathan. It was so emotional. Me and Dianne were meant to link arms and walk off, but as soon as we did, she crumpled, then I crumpled, and the two of us were in bits. It was a lot, you know.”

His victory was particularly meaningful to his family, especially his 11-year-old daughter Sophie, who had been deeply invested in his journey. Chris shared that she had been incredibly nervous watching him perform each week. “She was so anxious during the first episode—worried I’d mess up or fall over. When we pulled off our first dance move, she burst into tears and missed the whole thing!” he said.

No Plans for Dancing on Ice

Despite proving his ability to take on a physically demanding competition, Chris has no interest in tackling Dancing on Ice. When Jonathan Ross jokingly suggested he could be a future contestant, Chris shut it down immediately.

“I said on Strictly that you’re capable of more than people think, but I didn’t really mean it,” he laughed. “Even I have my limits. I’d be in a double cast within an hour. I do not ice skate.”

A New Audience for His Comedy

Since winning Strictly, Chris has been busy touring the country with his stand-up show. He noted that his time on the dance floor introduced him to an entirely new audience. “I think people got to see my daft sense of humor on Strictly, so now they know what to expect if they come to one of my comedy gigs.”

During the episode, Chris was joined by fellow Strictly star Oti Mabuse, as well as actors Brian Cox and Christina Hendricks. As the show wrapped up, Jonathan Ross invited Oti to perform some carnival-inspired dance moves to celebrate her upcoming tour.

Oti eagerly agreed, saying, “I would love to! Can we all do it together?”

Chris, never one to shy away from a challenge, replied, “I’ll have a go,” leading to a hilarious moment where Oti attempted to teach him some Batucada dance steps.

Looking Ahead

While Strictly may be behind him, Chris McCausland’s career is busier than ever. Between stand-up comedy, television appearances, and his continued work as an advocate for disability representation in entertainment, he’s showing no signs of slowing down.

His Strictly journey was filled with hard work, injuries, and emotional highs, but one thing is certain—Chris danced his way into the hearts of the nation, one step at a time.

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