Chris McCausland has broken his silence after furious Strictly fans branded the Samba-thon ‘discriminatory, unfair and in poor taste’.
The blind comedian, 47, took to the dancefloor on Saturday night to compete in a high drama Samba-thon involving all seven couples on the floor at the same time.
But viewers thought Chris was at an unfair disadvantage because he has no concept of spatial awareness, despite judges actively encouraging the celebs ‘move around’ the floor.
Chris and his professional dance partner Dianne were the first couple to be sent off of the ballroom floor.
Going off the dancefloor first meant Chris and Dianne were only awarded one point, placing them second to bottom of the judges’ scoreboard.
But in their solo performance later in the episode, they delivered a fiery pasodoble for their performance tonight, which earned them 32 points.
+11
View gallery
Chris McCausland, 47, has broken his silence after furious Strictly fans branded the Samba-thon ‘discriminatory, unfair and in poor taste’
+11
View gallery
The blind comedian took to the dancefloor on Saturday night to compete in a high drama Samba-thon involving all seven couples on the floor at the same time
+11
View gallery
But viewers thought Chris was at an unfair disadvantage because he has no concept of spatial awareness, despite judges actively encouraging the celebs ‘move around’ the floor
+11
View gallery
But in their solo performance later in the episode, they delivered a fiery pasodoble for their performance tonight, which earned them 32 points
+11
View gallery
Fans on X wrote: ‘I find it shocking they chose this year to bring back the sambathon when Chris cannot see any of the other couples/be spatially aware of other couples. Like of course he’s gonna get voted off first? Not in good taste in my opinion’
+11
View gallery
+11
View gallery
After viewers branded the samba-thon ‘discriminatory’ towards Chris, he took to Instagram to reflect on his performance
The TV alum, who is the first blind contestant to take part in the hit BBC show, said he feels like a ‘bendy Spiderman’ in rehearsals as he figures out the steps.
Chris admitted that Diane initially ‘didn’t have a clue’ how to teach him choreography with the pair trying many different methods.
Appearing on The Graham Norton Show on Friday, he explained: ‘When we started, we didn’t have a clue how we would do it so decided to wing it and see what happens. I had never been taught to dance and Dianne had never taught anyone that couldn’t see.
‘She sometimes describes what needs doing, sometimes I have to get on my hands and knees and figure out what she is doing with her legs and feet, and sometimes she picks a part of me and put it where she wants it.’
He added: ‘I’m like a bendy Spiderman! But whatever it is we are doing it is working.’
Reflecting on their performance last weekend Chris said: ‘Being at Blackpool was wonderful – it’s like the Wembley of ballroom dancing.
‘I’m actually surprised I’m still in it. It was perfect and I celebrated like I’d won the FA cup!’
Strictly Come Dancing 2024: Who are the couples?
Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell
JB Gill and Amy Dowden MBE
Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk
Paul Merson and Karen Hauer
Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał
Sam Quek MBE and Nikita Kuzmin
Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola
Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones
Punam Krishan and Gorka Márquez
Wynne Evans and Katya Jones
+11
View gallery
Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec
Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas
Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe
Tom Dean MBE and Nadiya Bychkova
+11
View gallery
Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu
+11
View gallery
