Chris McCausland, the reigning Strictly Come Dancing champion, has opened up about the physical toll of the competition and one particularly painful move that left him struggling. 

The comedian, who made history as the show’s first blind contestant to win the Glitterball trophy, 

shared his experience ahead of an appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show, set to air on February 15.

McCausland danced his way to victory alongside professional partner Dianne Buswell, impressing audiences and judges with his remarkable progress. 

However, his journey to the top was far from easy, with intense training and unexpected injuries pushing him to his limits.

A Painful TikTok-Inspired Move

During his interview, McCausland recalled one of his most physically challenging moments on the show—a move suggested by his dance partner, Dianne Buswell, which he now jokingly regrets attempting.

“Dianne tried to do this move with me that she’d seen on TikTok. I had to pull her vertical body up straight, and it literally ripped me apart from my left a** cheek to my right shoulder,”* he admitted.

While McCausland is known for his sharp sense of humor, it’s clear that the demanding nature of Strictly took a serious physical toll. The eight-hour-a-day, six-day-a-week training schedule pushed contestants to their limits, and McCausland noted that it was a miracle more dancers didn’t suffer long-term injuries.

“The first few weeks, you pick up injuries that relate to the dance you’re doing,” he explained. “The jive—you feel like you’ve been on a mule for a week. The first time you do a bit of ballroom—your knees take it because you’re not used to it. It’s amazing more people don’t get injured permanently on that show.”

An Emotional Victory

Despite the challenges, McCausland’s perseverance paid off when he and Buswell were crowned Strictly Come Dancing champions in December. Competing against Miranda actress Sarah Hadland, Love Island star Tasha Ghouri, and JLS singer JB Gill in the grand final, McCausland delivered a stunning waltz that secured his victory.

The overwhelming moment brought both him and Buswell to tears. He revealed that they had planned to gracefully link arms and exit the stage together, but the sheer emotional weight of their win left them unable to follow through.

“It was emotional, Jonathan. It was so emotional,” McCausland said. “Me and Dianne were meant to link arms at the end and walk off. As we linked arms, she crumpled and then I crumpled, and the two of us were in bits. It was a lot, you know.”

Dancing on Ice? Not a Chance!

Following his Strictly success, speculation arose that McCausland might take on another reality show challenge—Dancing on Ice. However, he was quick to shut down any rumors, making it clear that ice skating was not in his future.

“I said on Strictly that you’re capable of more than people think, but I didn’t really mean it,” he joked. “Even I’ve got a line. I would literally be in a double cast within an hour. I do not ice skate.”

While the ice rink may be off-limits, McCausland’s Strictly journey has been an inspiring one, proving that determination and hard work can overcome even the toughest challenges.

His Family’s Touching Reaction

One of the most heartwarming aspects of McCausland’s time on Strictly was how much it meant to his family. He shared that his wife and daughter watched his performances from home, with his daughter becoming particularly invested in the competition.

However, her nerves nearly got the best of her during his debut performance.

“She was so nervous, I think she fed off my anxiety,” McCausland revealed. “She was so nervous on the first episode that it wouldn’t work or I’d make a fool of myself or fall over or something. When we did that first move where we danced off, she burst out crying and missed the whole thing!”

A Journey to Remember

McCausland’s Strictly experience was one filled with both pain and triumph. From grueling rehearsals and unexpected injuries to emotional highs and the joy of victory, his journey encapsulated everything that makes the show so beloved.

While his days of competitive dancing may be behind him, his win will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most inspiring moments in Strictly history.

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