Strictly Come Dancing has confirmed its first celebrity for the 2024 series.
Blind comedian Chris McCausland appeared on This Morning to reveal his excitement at appearing on the BBC show.
The 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.
Comedian and CBeebies actor Chris, 46, lost his sight aged 22 due to a hereditary condition, Retinitis Pigmentosa.
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Strictly Come Dancing has confirmed its first celeb for the 2024 series. Blind comedian Chris McCausland appeared on This Morning to reveal his excitement at appearing on the BBC show
Chris has been a comedian for over two decades and is a regular face on flagship comedy shows like Have I Got News for You, Would I Lie to You?, QI, The Last Leg, and 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
He has appeared on Live at the Apollo three times, hosting in 2021, a year that also saw him make his highly acclaimed debut appearance on The Royal Variety Performance.
Chris currently hosts his own Saturday morning chat show for ITV: The Chris McCausland Show. He has also co-written and stars in Bad Tidings a festive family comedy movie that will premier for Sky this Christmas.
The comedian said of his next venture: ‘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.
‘I don’t dance, I haven’t danced, I can’t dance, I can’t see the dancing I will have to do. What can possibly go wrong? Ok don’t answer that…!’
The Liverpool-born star – who is also known to children for appearing on CBeebies in Me Too! – shares his daughter Sophie with wife Patricia.
This Morning hosts Josie Gibson and Craig Doyle will be revealing the second celeb contestant later on Monday’s show.
The presenting duo teased clues throughout the show and said there would be a ‘big sparkly reveal’.
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Chris has been a comedian for over two decades and is a regular face on comedy shows like Have I Got News for You, Would I Lie to You?, QI and 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown
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The comedian said of his next venture: ‘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’
The first clue showed the back of a man’s head in the dressing room – with guest Giles Brandreth branding them a ‘remarkable’ person.
Chris joked that ‘this is literally the worst kept secret that has ever been in British television,’ after his involvement was first reported last month.
‘It’s been exhausting keeping it a secret when everyone else seems to know.’
‘I kept it a secret for so long and then it was in the papers, at least I can admit it rather than going “I don’t know what you’re on about”.
Chris was welcomed to the show by a flurry of comments from the professional dancers and judges, with Motsi Mabuse, Nikita Kuzmin and Dianne Buswell among those commenting on the official Strictly Instagram page.
Vivienne Francis, Royal National Institute of Blind People’s Chief Social Change Officer said: ‘It’s brilliant to see greater representation of people with disabilities on reality shows.
‘In 2021, Rose Ayling-Ellis starred on Strictly Come Dancing, Ron Hall and Tasha Ghouri on Love Island, and Libby Clegg on Dancing on Ice.
‘It’s a step in the right direction and it’s clear the positive impact this representation can have.
‘We hope TV series will continue to diversify their contestants and actors to challenge misconceptions of those living with a disability. Good luck, Chris!’
Strictly has been plunged into chaos in recent weeks as a number of allegations of abuse from professionals have come to light.
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Later on This Morning JLS star JB Gill was the second celeb confirmed
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Chris was welcomed to the show by a flurry of comments from the professional dancers and judges on the official Strictly Instagram page
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Strictly has been plunged into chaos in recent weeks as a number of allegations of abuse from professionals have come to light. Graziano Di Prima has been sacked for ‘kicking’ his 2023 partner Zara McDermott
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Actress Amanda Abbington complained that professional dancer Giovanni Pernice bullied her during their rehearsals last year – allegations he strongly denies
The scandal erupted when actress Amanda Abbington quit the show last year before claiming that her partner Giovanni Pernice was abusive towards her – later leaving the show.
Soon after it emerged that Graziano Di Prima had been sacked for ‘kicking’ his partner Love Island star Zara McDermott.
Last week Laura Whitmore accused BBC bosses of ‘gaslighting’ her over her Strictly experience with Giovanni .
The TV presenter, 39, who was partnered with the Italian dancer, 33, on the show in 2016, recently confirmed she’d spoken to the show about Giovanni’s ‘inappropriate behaviour’, following her claims that she initially raised concerns to the BBC six years ago.
And in a dramatic new statement, the star has shed more light on her Strictly experience, telling how it’s ‘all coming out now’ amid the flurry of accusations against the show and its professional dancers.
Despite the flurry of allegations, Strictly is ploughing ahead with its 2024 series, with the full lineup due to be confirmed in the coming days.
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Tom Dean has broken Strictly Come Dancing rules by revealing he has signed up to compete on the upcoming series before the official announcement
Earlier this month it was revealed TOWIE star Pete Wicks has signed up, despite the news his close pal Zara McDermott was physically and verbally abused by her professional dance partner Graziano Di Prima last year.
Meanwhile ex Arsenal player Paul Merson and DIY SOS star Nick Knowles have also reportedly put on their dancing shoes.
Meanwhile Tom Dean has broken Strictly rules by revealing he has signed up to compete on the upcoming series before the official announcement.
The swimmer, 24, will follow in the footsteps of his teammate Adam Peaty as he confirmed recent reports he will be taking part.
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The full Strictly line up was reportedly ‘leaked’ as an alleged list has confirmed the stars joining Pete Wicks (pictured), Paul Merson and Nick Knowles on the upcoming series
It was revealed earlier this month that ex Arsenal player Paul Merson (L) and DIY SOS star Nick Knowles (R) have also reportedly put on their dancing shoes
The BBC go to great lengths to keep the celebrities taking part in each series top secret and stars usually don’t comment on speculation until it’s officially confirmed.
But Tom confirmed he is getting ready to take to the dancefloor while speaking after the men’s 200 metres individual medley at the Olympics in Paris on Thursday.
He said: ‘Naturally you want to take a break after you’ve had a full Olympic cycle and the opportunity arose. I thought it would be really exciting to try something a bit different. I’ll be doing that and straight back into training after it.
Tom also confirmed he’ll be seeking advise from his teammate Adam Peaty who danced with Katya Jones on the 2021 series.
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Source: Los Angeles Times (edited)
