Yahoo News BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Chris McCausland given major 'favourite' boost after ballroom 'struggle'
Chris McCausland has been given a major 'favouritism' boost after he admitted to 'struggling' during his latest stint in the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom.
It was another impressive weekend for the comedian in the BBC One dance contest as he performed only for a second time live with his professional dance partner Dianne Buswell.
Chris, who is Strictly's first blind contestant, stole the show as week two of the BBC One dance contest took place on Saturday night (September 28), receiving a standing ovation from the live audience for his foxtrot.
Chris and Dianne landed a score of 29 after gliding across the dancefloor and performing bench work with his partner Dianne Buswell to Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy by The Tams.
After giving the comic a standing ovation, head judge Shirley Ballas praised him as “an example to every celebrity upstairs when it comes to footwork”. Fellow judge Motsi Mabuse said the slow foxtrot is one of the most difficult dances but she felt he made it look “so easy” while Anton Du Beke said “You are just wonderful”.
During Sunday night's (September 29) first results show of the series, viewers saw Chris and Dianne make it through to week three - which is the first special of the series as Movie Week arrives in the ballroom.
And as training gets underway ahead of the special show, Chris and Dianne have been given a major boost and after getting a high score all the ballroom, he's subsequently been smashed into 11/8 for the Glitterball Trophy.
Long-time favourite Tasha Ghouri has suffered in the market and is now out to 3/1 despite scoring 35 for her Viennese Waltz on while former JLS member JB Gill remains in contention at 6/1, whilst Sarah Hadland and Montell Douglas round out the top five (both 10/1).
And while neither Paul Merson nor Nick Knowles were in the first dance-off of the series, they bother sit joint at the foot of the market at 150/1.
Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: "The elimination of Tom Dean provided the first shock of this year’s Strictly series, but it will come as no surprise that we have been forced to slash Chris McCausland’s price to win the series following two impressive dances.
"Before the opening week we had McCausland down as a 10/1-shot, but after producing a charming Cha Cha and a fabulous Foxtrot, we now make him the outright 11/8 favourite for the Glitterball Trophy.
"Tasha Ghouri and JB Gill had both been favourites at some point before the start of the series, but McCausland’s performances have pushed the pair aside and they’re now 3/1 and 6/1 apiece. Many had expected Toyah Willcox to be dumped out last week but she survived the dance-off, although that hasn’t helped her chances as she remains a 100/1-shot, just ahead of Nick Knowles and Paul Merson at 150/1."
It comes after the airing of the results show, which is actually filmed directly after the main show at Elstree Studios on a Saturday evening, Dianne took to Instagram to praise Chris. She simply said alongside pictures of the pair in the ballroom: "What a LEGEND full stop. @chrismccauslandcomedy."
Dianne also took to her Instagram Story and alongside a video of the moment she and Chris were confirmed for week three, she wrote: "Thank you so much for voting for us and for all you kind comments. We are thrilled to be dancing another week!" Alongside a tearful emoji, the Australian dancer continued: "However, Chris could not get his head around why we would celebrate going through when somebody had to leave. Lots of love to Tom and Nadia [Bychkova]."
