Blind Strictly star Chris McCausland has revealed how he’s learning to dance despite not being able to see.
The comedian, 47, started losing his sight 20 years ago, between the ages of 16 and 21, due to retinitis pigmentosa which, according to the NHS, sees sufferers lose their sight as the light-sensing cells of the retina gradually deteriorate.
His signing is a first for the dance competition which previously featured deaf EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis who won the glitterball trophy alongside Giovanni Pearce in 2021.
Speaking to about how he was going to dance without being able to see, he confessed: ‘I have no idea! They asked what they could do because I’ve never seen the show for obvious reasons. I can’t even go back and watch it to see what it involves, how intricate the dances are.
‘All we can do is figure it out as we’re going along because I need to be in it and doing it to see what works and what doesn’t.’
Blind Strictly star Chris McCausland has revealed how he’s learning to dance despite not being able to see
The comedian, 47, started losing his sight 20 years ago, between the ages of 16 and 21, due to retinitis pigmentosa which, according to the NHS , sees sufferers lose their sight as the light-sensing cells of the retina gradually deteriorate
Chris continued: ‘Everyone’s been really flexible, really supportive, and me and my partner are just figuring out ways for them to teach me and for me to learn.
‘It’s a learning curve and hopefully the mistakes we make along the way will allow us to have a bit of a laugh, make some funny VTs and show the mistakes, because there will be a lot of mistakes along the way, I imagine.’
Despite being the first blind star to appear on the show, he insisted he’s not setting out to ‘inspire’ anyone.
He explained: ‘For me it’s not inspiring. I don’t think blind people need inspiring as much as they need representing.
‘So it’s more for everybody else watching it who maybe isn’t exposed to somebody who’s blind in their life, who has got these really antiquated ideas.
‘I’ve got in a taxi before and someone’s gone “oh wow, you did the stairs on your own”. People think you can’t do anything if you’re blind.
‘So it’s more just showing that more is capable than people imagine. The only problem with that is if I’m s**t, it doesn’t help anybody!’
Chris went on to add: ‘There will be things that I probably can’t do or I get wrong along the way and you need to roll with it and be able to laugh at the failures.
‘Hopefully I won’t be the only one making mistakes but this is the problem, when we’re doing the group dance, I can’t see the mistakes everyone else is making!’
His signing is a first for the dance competition which previously featured deaf EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis who won the glitterball trophy alongside Giovanni Pearce in 2021
Speaking about his visual impairment previously while taking part in Channel 4 series Scared of the Dark, Chris explained: ‘I’m blind but I don’t see black.
‘I still see light and space, I still have an awareness of the space around me, not in terms of objects and things, but in terms of the room and whether there might be something in front of me.
‘It just gives you that awareness that you’re taking that away from me. I’m a slave to my iPhone like everybody else. So on paper you go, ‘Well, I should nail this,’ but in one area I should be more practically adjusted.
‘It’ll be quite interesting to see how quickly everybody else gets to that point. I’m quite looking forward to being the most able bodied person for a while. It doesn’t happen often.’
In recent months, the dancing competition has been hit by a wave of scandals, with Giovanni Pernice being probed after his celebrity partner Amanda Abbington accused him of abusive behaviour, while Graziano Di Prima was sacked over reports he verbally and physically abused Zara McDermott during rehearsals.
The Strictly Come Dancing 2024 launch show will air on Saturday 14th September at 19:20 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
STRICTLY LINE-UP 2024
Chris McCausland
Age: 46
Profession: Comedian
Chris says: ‘If anybody out there is thinking – How the hell is he going to do that? – then rest assured that I am thinking exactly the same thing.’
Dr. Punam Krishan
Age: Unknown
Profession: GP and broadcaster
Punam says: ‘I have watched Strictly every year and it feels extra special that it’s the 20th year, I can’t believe I will be the one getting Strictly-fied.’
Toyah Willcox
Age: 66
Profession: Singer, actor, presenter
Toyah says: ‘I’m super excited and love this show. To be a part of it, the spray tan the glitter. Its a landmark year for me I came a pensioner, Glasto and now I get spray tans.’
Pete Wicks
Age: 36
Profession: Reality star
Pete says: ‘Dancing live in front of the nation every Saturday? Absolutely terrifying.’
Shayne Ward
Age: 39
Profession: Actor and singer
Shayne says: ‘I’m no stranger to live TV, but dancing Latin and Ballroom in front of millions is a whole new level.’
Tom Dean
Age: 24
Profession: Olympic medal winning swimmer
Tom says: ‘Now I can officially talk about how excited I am to get stuck into something new, meet some brilliant people and get dancing’
Nick Knowles
Age: 61
Profession: TV presenter
Nick says: ‘I am going to really go for it I will throw myself at it 100 per cent!’
JB Gill
Age: 37
Profession: Singer
JB says: ‘A lot of the ballroom styles are very alien to me – I didn’t do those dances growing up. I am not a trained dancer.’
Wynne Evans
Age: 52
Profession: Opera singer, presenter
Wynne says: ‘The stuff I’m nervous about is the ones that involve jumping, I don’t really want to do the jive, I’m nervous about that.
Tasha Ghouri
Age: 25
Profession: Model and reality star
Tasha says: ‘I’ve been watching the show since I was little – it’s a firm Ghouri family favourite – so this is a total dream come true.’
Sarah Hadland
Age: 53
Profession: Actress
Sarah says: ‘I feel particularly excited to be part of such an iconic show in its 20th year.’
Jamie Borthwick
Age: 30
Profession: EastEnders star
Jamie says: ‘I had a ball doing the Christmas special, so when I was asked to join it was the easiest yes!’
Sam Quek
Age: 35
Profession: Former GB hockey player and presenter
Sam says: ‘I am so relieved it is out there now it has been hard to keep a secret! The rumours were spreading and I had to lie! I am used to dancing on a girls night out but I will give it my all’
Paul Merson
Age: 56
Profession: Former footballer
Paul says: ‘I won’t worry about it until it starts but when it does I will be nervous – I have only danced three times in my life!’