Strictly Come Dancing pro defends show over Chris McCausland drama after BBC viewers complain

A pro dancer has defended Strictly Come Dancing’s decision to conduct a ‘sambathon’ on the show after viewers complained that it wasn’t fair to comedian Chris McCausland, the show’s first blind contestant.

Chris, who lacks spatial awareness and is blind due to retinitis pigmentosa, is one of the favourites to win this year’s edition of the BBC staple. The 47-year-old has wowed audiences and judges since the start of the competition.

During the 'sambathon', which featured six other dancing couples, Chris and his dance partner Dianne Buswell, 35, were the first to be eliminated triggering a wave of criticism from fans who claimed it was “discriminatory” and “unfair”.

Writing on X, one viewer exclaimed: “I'm sorry but the sambathon was very discriminatory against Chris, he had no perception of where the others were and he wasn't able to do half the moves the other couples were doing because he had to be connected to Dianne, very poor from Strictly.”

A second added: “Had it been an annual thing, that's one thing... but they chose to bring it back! It was deliberated! Selected! Put in place! With a BLIND and very popular contestant! MAD!”

However, one of Strictly Come Dancing’s pro dancers, Nadiya Bychkova, told an audience at the Chelsea Dental Clinic & The London Laundry Club, that the spatial awareness that Chris lacks is not needed for the dance.

Despite her defence of the show, Bychkova joined the tens of professionals who have praised Chris for his talent. Addressing the spatial awareness issues and claims of unfairness, she said: “I don't think that's anything to do with that. The show would never put him at a disadvantage. He blows my mind every week.”

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Since the sambathon controversy Chris has taken to social media to address the concerns of fans. Writing on Instagram he said: “I was really proud of our dance on Saturday, and as for the Sambathon...[zipped-mouth emoji].

“Well thank you so much for all of your votes. You really did help us survive double Latin! See you tomorrow partner [Dianne Buswell], I'll be bringing earplugs.”

This isn’t the first time the impact of Chris's sight loss has been discussed in relation to Strictly Come Dancing. Earlier this month, he said the show’s producers had offered to make changes in order to help him, most notably asking the audience to remain silent during his dances.

However, McCausland declined the offer, telling the Guardian: “I'm a comedian, part of the reason you're in it is to create a good atmosphere. I’m a needy b****rd.”

As well as inspiring people around the UK, Chris has also taken the opportunity to discuss his disability and how growing up with it made it easier for his family to deal with. He told The Big Issue: “When somebody has a disability that comes out the blue, it is very easy and understandable for parents to be protective and wrap them in cotton wool.

“There's a worry, there's a panic, there's a lack of experience. But having it in the family meant even with me having poor sight in my childhood, I was treated no different, sent out playing in the streets. All that forms your personality when you're older.”