Strictly: Chris McCausland 'astonished' after being crowned winner
Strictly Come Dancing viewers were moved to tears after an emotional off-camera moment following the announcement of this year's winners. Comedian Chris McCausland and his professional dance partner Dianne Buswell clinched the coveted Glitterball trophy in the final of the BBC One dance competition, as voted by the public.
This victory marked a milestone in the show's 20-year history, with Chris becoming the first blind winner. Despite ranking last on the final leaderboard, the pair's three routines - their favourite dance, the final show dance, and the judges' preferred routine - won them the title.
They triumphed over fellow contestants including Miranda actress Sarah Hadland and her partner Vito Coppola, Love Island's Tasha Ghouri and dancer Aljaz Skorjanec, and JLS singer JB Gill and his partner Lauren Oakley. Upon being declared the 2024 champions by host Tess Daly, an overwhelmed Chris described the win as "astonishing".
The 47 year old, who was visibly emotional and embraced Dianne in disbelief, said: "It's astonishing. It's you know. I don't know what to say. I honestly thought I could go out in the first week or two and I know no-one went out in the first week but I still thought I could."
Chris revealed his victory mantra saying "anything can happen" with "support and determination", after his historic win as the first blind contestant on Strictly. Overwhelmed with gratitude, he lavished praise on his partner Dianne, enthusing: "She deserves this so much. She's just honestly one of the easiest people to be funny with the other and unless she changes her number, she's stuck with me", reports the Manchester Evening News.
However, in the midst of the celebrations, viewers at home had their attention stolen by the touching presence of Dianne's parents, Mark and Rina. Having travelled from Australia to spend the festive season with their daughter, they witnessed her triumph in the famed ballroom firsthand.
The audience at home shared their emotional reactions on Twitter, with @BailzSmallwood confessing: "I'm actually bawling over dianne's parents getting to see her win for the first time, dianne the mother you are #strictly."
Another fan, @thatsmypeachx, tweeted about the couple's hope to continue long enough for Dianne's parents to arrive, stating: "Chris and Dianne were trying to stay in long enough for her parents to fly over from Australia and watch her perform live, instead her parents got to watch them live for many weeks and they got to see their little girl win the glitterball trophy #Strictly #StrictlyFinal."
@chloerichx appreciated the familial sentiment adding: "Also, I love how Katya and Gorka went to get Dianne's parents out of the audience #Strictly."
And @lucy_tanton captured the universal emotion writing: "Seeing Dianne's parents balling their eyes out and going to hug anyone who they could because they were so proud and overcome with emotion got me in the feels #strictly."
Twitter user @scdkatdijowita pointed out a heartwarming moment from the Strictly Come Dancing finale, remarking: "I just noticed Katya and Gorka bringing on Dianne's parents at the end in the final shot #Strictly."
Another fan, @strictlylmx, gushed over the significance of the occasion: "The fact that she's waited this long for her parents to come over and watch her dance only for her to lift the glitterball with them, her boyfriend that she met on strictly and her future mother in law in the audience to see it all happen. incredible. #Strictly."
Strictly Come Dancing is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
