Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One this Saturday. Comedian Chris McCausland, who is blind, is one of the contestants this year. Below he talks about taking part in one of TV's most talked about shows.
The other celebrities taking part are Jamie Borthwick, JB Gill, Montell Douglas, Nick Knowles, Tasha Ghouri, Tom Dean MBE, Toyah Willcox, Paul Merson, Pete Wicks, Punam Krishan, Sam Quek MBE, Sarah Hadland, Shayne Ward and Wynne Evans,
Buy tickets for Chris McCausland's tour here.
Strictly Come Dancing, from Saturday 14 September, 7.20pm.
When you got the call inviting you to take part in Strictly Come Dancing 2024, what made you say yes?
The good thing about stand-up is that a lot of the opportunities that come along on the back of it tend to be things that are outside of your comfort zone. I have found that the further out of my comfort zone I put myself, the more incredible the experience has been. Strictly is so far outside of my comfort zone that it might as well be on the moon. By that rationale, I think it could be the best thing I've ever done. Or three weeks I’ll never live down!
Describe Strictly in one word or phrase.
Unknown – I’ve never watched it, for obvious reasons, and I don't get anything really from going back and listening to an episode. I’ve got no idea what I'm getting myself into!
How does it feel to be a part of the momentous 20th Anniversary series?
It's such a hugely loved show, it's nice to be on it as it hits a big milestone like that.
The series is 20 years old this year. What were you doing 20 years ago or what were you doing at age 20?
Twenty years ago I was on the open mic comedy circuit. I had been doing stand-up for about a year and was working in a call centre selling employment law manuals to human resource managers - living the dream eh!
What have you heard about Strictly from people close to you?
My best mate's wife is obsessed with Strictly, so she is probably the best source of information that I have. However, when she found out I was doing it she couldn't breathe properly and her head nearly exploded, and she hasn't been much use to me since. It's not a world I've ever been exposed to and it's hard to understate how things that other people take for granted are unknown to me. It wasn’t until three weeks ago that I found out people get fake tans. Then I thought it was just one week, like a fake tan themed week.
There was also a point a few months ago where someone mentioned "if you make it as far as Blackpool," and so I thought that about half way through the series, the whole show just moves to Blackpool for the rest of the series. I thought that for about two months until somebody told me it was just for one week. I'm trying to get as much information as I can but I'm learning as I go. I have no preconceived ideas so I'm learning it all.
Which aspects of Strictly are you most looking forward to?
One thing I do like about making TV shows is working in a team. It's collaborative whereas stand up is really solitary. Everything I do as a comedian comes from my own head, and I'm in charge of all the decisions. So, on Strictly I am really looking forward to working with my dance partner every week, but also to be working as part of a large team who are all just trying to make a great show for people to watch.
Is there a dance that you're most looking forward to trying?
I keep joking that I'm looking forward to mosh pit week. That's what I grew up with. I grew up with metal and rock and head banging. Let’s see if we can work that in. I'm more apprehensive about the dances where you're not in contact with your partner because I don't really know what that entails and how I will be able to navigate the stage on my own with any real degree of precision.
Do you have a signature dance move you always do at parties?
No, I don't dance. I stand in the corner pretending to watch everybody dance.
You said you used to be a bit of a mosher. Do you think you'll bring that to the ballroom in some capacity?
I think what you're going to get from me is a certain degree of non-conformist dancing because I won't be able to see the precision of what I’m trying to achieve. I think there's going to be, by default, a certain degree of my own version more so than other people because how precise can somebody be teaching me in four or five days. It would be so much easier to watch and see what you’re trying to achieve. We'll see, it might work in my favour. It might not.
You're best known for your stand-up comedy. Do you think you'll incorporate some of that comedy into your performances? Or will you be taking it really seriously?
I’ll take the show seriously but I won’t take myself seriously. If we can do something funny then I'm all for that. Maybe I can bring some visual comedy into the dances. I'll be up for having a laugh with the judges, Tess and Claudia, I will be more in my comfort zone for those moments.
Do you think you'll be competitive with the other contestants?
