Chris McCausland, 47, has spoken out about the ‘discriminatory’ Strictly Samba-thon that took place on Saturday night. The Samba-thon added a unique challenge by requiring dancers to be aware of their surroundings while performing, making it particularly difficult for Chris, who is Strictly’s first ever blind contestant.
Chris and his dance partner, Diane Buswell, were the first to be eliminated, despite earning 32 points in their solo performance. Fans quickly took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to express concerns about the fairness of the Samba-thon. One user wrote: "I'm sorry but the sambathon was very discriminatory against Chris, he had no perception of where the others were and he wasn't able to do half the moves the other couples were doing because he had to be connected to Dianne, very poor from Strictly."
Others criticized Strictly for bringing back the Samba-thon this year, knowing it would put Chris at a disadvantage. One fan said: "I find it shocking they chose this year to bring back the sambathon when Chris cannot see any of the other couples or be spatially aware of them. Like of course he's gonna get voted off first? Not in good taste in my opinion." Another added: "Had it been an annual thing, that’s one thing… but they chose to bring it back! It was deliberated! Selected! Put in place! With a BLIND and very popular contestant! MAD!!!"
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BBC)Despite the criticism, Chris remained positive, sharing his thoughts on Instagram: "I was really proud of our dance on Saturday, and as for the Sambathon…[zipped-mouth emoji] ….Well thank you so much for all of your votes. You really did help us survive double Latin! See you tomorrow partner [Dianne Buswell], I'll be bringing earplugs."
Chris and Diane are among the favourites to win the Glitterball Trophy, with the comedian—who lost his sight between the ages of 16 and 22 due to retinitis pigmentosa—winning over fans and judges alike. His eyesight deteriorated during university, preventing him from pursuing a career in web development, but his talent for stand-up comedy led to TV roles, including playing Rudi in CBeebies' Me Too! and appearances on Have I Got News For You.
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BBC)"Being blind wasn't just something that happened to me, it was hereditary," the comedian told The Big Issue. "Nan was blind, my mum was losing her sight. It was always treated as just part of life, so you get on with it and have a laugh."
The star says inheriting a known condition within his family "fed into my way of viewing" his blindness and it's one which might not be expected. He explained: "When somebody has a disability that comes out the blue, it is very easy and understandable for parents to be protective and wrap them in cotton wool. There's a worry, there's a panic, there's a lack of experience.
"But having it in the family meant even with me having poor sight in my childhood, I was treated no different, sent out playing in the streets. All that forms your personality when you're older."
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