Chris McCausland is reportedly being lined up for a big money deal with the BBC after winning Strictly Come Dancing alongside Dianne Buswell on Saturday night
(Image: PA)
Strictly star Chris McCausland is reportedly in talks for a major deal with the BBC after his triumphant win in the popular dance competition. The corporation’s bosses are said to be keen on retaining the comedian following his and Dianne Buswell’s Glitterball victory on Saturday.
As the show’s first blind contestant, Chris wowed viewers, judges, professional dancers and fellow contestants alike, never once landing in the dreaded dance-off. Now, a TV insider has suggested that Chris’s journey on Strictly demonstrates his “a traditional sense of humour that can connect with the ordinary viewers at home”, a quality they believe is missing from other BBC comedy shows.
If the rumours are confirmed, Chris could play a key role in enhancing the BBC’s comedy output. The source told The Sun: “What he did by keeping everyone in fits during the course of Strictly was show that he wasn’t just funny, but proved he had a traditional sense of humour that can connect with the ordinary viewers at home. That’s something which critics have said is lacking from many comedy series on the Beeb, and Chris could breathe new life into a genre which was once a mainstay for the corporation.”
They also hinted that Chris might feature in general entertainment shows, adding: “They are considering ways of him being reunited with pro partner Dianne as they had such a sensational chemistry together.”
After 13 weeks of impressing the audience, he is now reaping the benefits as TV executives scramble to sign him up for acting and presenting roles – and tickets to his UK gigs are selling out rapidly. Experts estimate that the comedian – whose stand-up tour is named Yonks in reference to his long-standing career – could capitalise on his success to the tune of £1million, after winning over the voting public.
Chris’s tour has impressively doubled in length with 100 additional dates. Chris is set to benefit from his increased celebrity status on both Channel 4 and Sky, with recorded shows set to broadcast over the holiday season. This Sunday, viewers can catch him in Sky’s festive special, Bad Tidings, where he stars alongside Lee Mack.
The plot follows a pair of feuding neighbours who come together during a power outage, with Chris’s blindness playing a unique role in their adventure. Additionally, Chris has already taken part as a panellist in Channel 4’s Big Fat Quiz of the Year, which Jimmy Carr hosts.
