Yahoo News BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Chris McCausland in show first as stage goes black for poignant reason
Strictly Come Dancing viewers were left in floods of tears as Chris McCausland took to the dance floor for an emotional routine about his sight loss. And fans were floored by an iconic moment in his Couple’s Choice to Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) by John Lennon with professional dance partner Dianne Buswell on the BBC show.
The pair impressed both the judges and viewers with a blackout moment to highlight what it is like for Chris, who lost his eyesight when he was in his 20s due to a hereditary condition called retinitis pigmentosa. Ahead of their routine, Chris explained in a VT: "When I was born my eyesight was maybe perfect but it deteriorated very, very steadily until probably my late teens, early 20s when all the useful stuff just went."
He said everybody had different experiences of going blind but "mine was denial, frustration. You pretend you can see, you try and blunder through. It actually becomes easier when you can't see anything.... It wasn't sad, it was just the way it was."
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He admitted: "I was asked to do Strictly a few times and I said no because I was scared of it to be honest. I realised for me not to do this was quite selfish because I'm lucky enough to get myself to a position where I have these opportunities to represent people.
"It's not that people with disabilities need inspiring or they need to see themselves on the telly but everyone else does...it's important to show people that more is possible than you would think."
After the routine, Dianne and Chris hugged with the professional dancer whispering a sweet message to her celebrity partner. She could be heard telling him: "I'm so proud of you."
Emotional viewers took to X to comment after the incredibly moving performance. One wrote: "That was so moving. Dianne is so great and this partnership with Chris is my fave."
A second said: "They turned the sound down when Rose was on, and tonight they turned the lights off when Chris was on to show us what it's like for them." A third commented: "Outstanding routine from Chris and Diane. LOVED the lift coming out of the darkness. So much skill, trust, sheer brilliance and inspiration. AMAZING!"
A fourth fan said: "Sobbing my way through Chris & Diane's finale tonight," while another agreed: " I can’t stop crying at Chris and Diane."
Chris and Dianne received a total of 33 points for their routine.
