BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Chris McCausland shares candid message about John Lennon song choice

Chris McCausland and Diane Buswell
-Credit: (Image: BBC)


On BBC's Strictly Come Dancing this Saturday, fan-favourite and West Derby native Chris McCausland brought the house down with an emotional and heartfelt performance. Chris, alongside partner Diane Buswell, performed a couple's choice routine to John Lennon's Instant Karma and the actor/comedian candidly shared what the song meant to him.

In his younger years, McCausland lost his sight to retinitis pigmentosa and has inspired many with his dancing abilities on the show. In Saturday's VT, he shared: "When I was born my eyesight was maybe perfect, but it deteriorated very steadily until probably late teens, early twenties."

Speaking of his personal experience as his disability developed, he said: "You pretend you can see. You try to blunder through. It actually becomes easier when you can't see anything, as you've got this plateau, this consistency."

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On losing his sight completely, he said: "It wasn't sad. It was just the way it was." Chris also mentioned that he had been asked to feature on the show in previous years,but was afraid to do it.

"I (then) realised for me not to do this is quite selfish," he said. "Some don't have any exposure to somebody who's blind or somebody with a disability. People with a disability are way more resilient, way more creative."

This week, the couple danced to the John Lennon classic Instant Karma. Chris shared what the song meant to him and said: "It's about kindness. It's about us all being as valuable as each other really. I'm hoping me doing this opens other people's eyes."

Chris McCausland in Strictly VT
Chris McCausland got candid in his Strictly VT -Credit:BBC

"To those asking 'Should I do it? Should I do it?", he said: "Just do it. What's the worst that could happen? It could work out better than you thought."

During the dance, the words 'we all shine on' from the Lennon track featured on a bold backdrop. In the middle of the song, the studio had a 'blackout' moment, where the audience was plunged into darkness to represent Chris's disability.

After the dance had finished, Chris and Diane received ample praise from the judges some of whom were reduced to tears. The usually tough critic Craig Revel Horwood said: "I really don't know how you're doing this."

Chris and Diane's in their couple's choice performance
Chris and Diane's couple's choice performance -Credit:BBC

Head judge Shirley Ballas fought back tears and shared: "You don't miss a beat. You wear your heart on your sleeve." Chris admitted how hard he had worked that week adding: "It's been a hard week. Physically. It (the dance) was just so joyful."

Fans have given heaps of praise online following the performance where one X user commented: "Chris has been spectacular throughout so far, but that was phenomenal! What an inspiration he is to the blind community and what an incredible teacher Dianne is. That had winner's performance written all over it! #Strictly."