Chris McCausland had the most hilarious one-liners during Strictly‘s launch show, telling the audience: “I may as well get the jokes out now, I’m only here for three weeks.”
The comedian, who lost his sight aged 22, is fearlessly learning to dance with professional dancer Dianne Buswell and he is making history as the BBC show’s first ever blind contestant. If anyone could distract away from the allegations plaguing Strictly, it’s McCausland and his sharp sense of humour.
Ahead of the first live dance next weekend, he tweeted: “The thought of the first #Strictly live dance on Saturday genuinely terrifies me. If @Andrex_UK Wants to sponsor me, I think I might need a van load.”
Here are some of our favourite moments so far…
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Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman was interviewing BBC Morning Live star Dr Punam Krishnan. Daly praised the contestant for juggling her day job with Strictly. “Dr. Punam! You are going to be continuing your work as a GP whilst doing Strictly,” she said. “So I imagine you’ve got to be a bit creative with the old multi-tasking.”
Dr Krishnan responded: “I’ve got to be! The days are very long and I’m a very literal student.” She added: “Yes, it’s all about the feet now. So over the years, the only thing I’ve heard is about blisters and blisters getting in the way of dancing. So cream, plasters, you name it, I’ve got it and if it all works I might share.”
McCausland pounced on the opportunity to crack a joke. The Would I Lie to You? star said: “Can I just say none of us can believe we managed to get in the same room as a GP!”
All of the Strictly pros and their celebrity partners erupted into laughter as the interview wrapped. Social media was awash with fans sharing their amusement too.
The TV medic couldn’t help but laugh along too. Playfully, Dr Krishnan pointed at the comedian and she said: “Oooo.”
Daly reached over to the TV doctor and she said: “Well let’s not keep you all waiting.”
Read more: BBC Strictly Come Dancing’s Chris McCausland’s honest show admission as fans ‘start petition’ (Manchester Evening News, 3-min read)
While it was McCausland’s turn to be interviewed, he didn’t mind admitting he has no idea what he has let himself in for. Winkleman said: “You said, rather beautifully, you have no absolutely no idea.”
“Not a clue,” McCausland said. With great humour, the blind comedian said there was no point him watching the show because he would only be listening to the judges giving scores after songs had played. He quipped: “There’s no point of listening to it, is there? I’m just listening to some people giving some scores about songs.”
Also McCausland joked about everyone’s reaction to him signing up to the dance show. He said: “Everybody when they found out I was doing this. Everybody had the same reaction which was: ‘What are you sure? But how?’ Even my postman said, ‘You’re not doing this are you?’
“I said, ‘I don’t know what I’m getting myself into. I don’t know the standard. I don’t know how good they get on it.’ And he went, ‘I’m not gonna lie to you mate. It’s good.'”
Winkleman hailed Dianne Buswell and McCausland’s pairing as “dreamy”. The comedian couldn’t resist joking they were perfectly matched because his pro would be able to go on holiday when they’re voted out early.
He jested: “She is absolutely over the moon having me because Dianne really wants November off. You’ve got a holiday booked, haven’t you?!”
Buswell was asked to give her celebrity partner an idea of what to expect from the show. She said: “Firstly, I am a big fan of yours. I’m so excited and honoured to be your partner. Secondly, I can’t answer that yet as I’m not sure myself how it’s going to work! But we are going to figure it out together.”
Everyone is laughing along with McCausland and we can’t wait to hear more from him!
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday September 21 on BBC1.