BBC Strictly Come Dancing fans say 'give them the Glitterball' as 'perfect partnership' announced
Strictly Come Dancing fans were quick to predict their winner as the new series kicked off on BBC One on Saturday night.
Fifteen new celebritie contestants are being partnered up with their professional dancers in tonight's pre-recorded show as the 22nd series gets underway. And one particular partnership has already got people taking.
Comedian Chris McCausland is the first ever blind contestant to take part in the dance show. The 47-year-old lost his sight as a result of retinitis pigmentosa, a hereditary eye disease that causes gradual degeneration of the retina.
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Fans were quick to share their delight at Chris's participation in the show but they were even more excited at the news that the Liverpool-born TV star, who has appeared on panel shows such as Have I Got News For You, 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown and QI, will be dancing with professional dancer Dianne Buswell.
The public are already backing the couple, with plenty of people taking to social media platform X to share their views, with some predicting the two will go far.
"Just give the glitterball to Chris McCausland NOW," one viewer said. "What a joyous contestant." Another added: "Dianne and Chris are going to be such a highlight of this series." A third said: "Chris needs to win this. One winner and its not even started. Come on."
A fourth commented: "Chris and dianne are already an iconic partnership i can’t wait for them," and another wrote: "Chris and dianne seem like such a perfect partnership."
Some predicted the comedian would go far in the competition, with one likening him to a previous winner. "Why do I have a good feeling Chris McCausland is going to be the Bill Bailey of this series?", they asked. Others said they would be voting for the star. "Regardless of how Chris dances I’m voting for him as he is incredibly brave and absolutely hilarious," he said.
Another added: "Chris McCausland seems really cool. Well done to him for taking part. I hope he does well."
After the pairing was announced, presenter Claudia Winkleman told Chris they were a "dreamy" couple, to which he replied joking: “She is absolutely over the moon having me because she really wants November off. You’ve got a holiday booked, haven’t you, so she’s made-up.”
Dianne said to Chris: "I am a big fan of yours. I’m so excited and honoured to be your partner." Asked about how Chris would navigate the dances with his visual impairment, he said: "We’re going to figure it out together. We’re going to make mistakes and have a laugh about them. Then we’re going to turn up here and show you all of the mistakes that we’ve learnt."
Chris has said that he “didn’t know any of the dances”, as he is not able to watch the show, and he was unsure what he was getting himself into.
Other celebrities taking part in the show include Olympic medalist and TV presenter Sam Quek, former footballer Paul Merson, TV presenter Nick Knowles and Gladiator Montell Douglas. Olympic swimmer Tom Dean, Eastenders actor Jamie Borthwick, Miranda actress Sarah Hadland and singer and actor Shayne Ward are also taking part in this year's series.
The final contestants completing the line up are TV personality and podcast host Pete Wicks, model and Love Island star Tasha Ghouri, BBC Morning Live's Dr Punam Krishan, singer Toyah Willcox, opera singer Wynne Evans and JLS star JB Gill.
This year's competition will also see the return of pro dancer Amy Dowden. The Welsh ballroom dancer, who was diagnosed with cancer last year, was unable to take part in the previous series.
Vito Coppola, Gorka Marquez, Johannes Radebe, Karen Hauer and Aljaz Skorjaned are among the other professional dancers taking part.
Strictly Come Dancing returns for the first live show next Saturday from 7pm.