One Strictly contestant is sure to dance to victory and “might just help save the entire Strictly franchise” according to one expert. After a summer of Strictly Come Dancing scandals when two male professional dancers, Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, were forced to quit the BBC series due to allegations of abusive behaviour from previous female partners, some were doubting the future of the hugely successful talent show.
There were even rumours this year’s series could be cancelled amid the drama but thankfully it did launch, albeit with one major change - the introduction of chaperones during rehearsals to ensure the comfort and safety of the celebrity contestants. That didn't stop a live show incident blowing up though when Go Compare star Wynne Evans was embroiled in an awkward moment' that went viral. His pro partner Katya Jones appeared to move his hand off of her waist and then blanked his high five attempt. They apologised for their "bad inside joke" but tensions were high and it did nothing to improve the show’s ailing reputation.
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PA)However there is one celebrity contestant who a TV expert believes may have rescued Strictly and who he says will definitely lift the Glitterball Trophy in December. The Guardian’s Michael Hogan says he’s "calling it now" and has named blind comedian Chris McCausland, 47, as the Strictly winner 2024. He reckons he’ll "dance to victory on a wave of positivity," which "might just help save the entire Strictly franchise".
He also claims that his casting in the line-up was "inspired". "Paired with irrepressible Australian professional dancer Dianne Buswell, his infectious humour and miraculous progress have helped Strictly repair its reputation," Hogan states. He reckons it’s Chris’ humour - he constantly cracks jokes on the live shows, often at the expense of the judges - that has reminded viewers that it’s simply an entertainment programme and should be treated as such.
"Crucially, he refuses to take it all too seriously. When Strictly was attracting front-page headlines, many seemed to forget that this just was a celebrity dancing competition. With his laconic wit and rapid-fire repartee, McCausland treats Strictly as what it is: escapist light entertainment," he writes.
He also points to the fact that Chris, a stand up comic for the last twenty years, knows how to work a crowd and always gets a "raucous reception" from the studio audience at Elstree. None more so than after his powerful Couple's Choice routine to Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) by John Lennon during which the lights were turned off so the audience and viewers got a taste of what dancing is like when blind.
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BBC)Hogan compares him to 2020 champion Bill Bailey, being a "middle-aged funnyman with innate musicality, impish humour and the underdog factor all wrapped up in one grin-inducing package." Although he says Love Island ’s Tasha Ghouri and Miranda star Sarah Hadland are the "stand out" celeb contestants when it comes to actual dancing prowess, he still believes dad of one Chris will win over the public when it comes to voting at the end of the series.
"When she [Dianne] and McCausland lift the glitterball trophy on 14 December, as they surely will, it will provide a dose of sheer joy. The euphoria could help Strictly Come Dancing transcend the bullying allegations and restore its feelgood factor in its landmark 20th year," he concludes.
Who do you think will win Strictly this year? Let us know in the comments below.
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