Chris McCausland has already proven himself to be this year’s shining light for a Strictly Come Dancing series that continues to have a grey cloud lingering over its freshly polished dancefloor.
The outcome of an investigation into the conduct of its dancer remains a mystery following the exits of Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima – even though the glitz and glam have returned to screens.
It’s been no secret that 2024 has been a tumultuous year for the BBC Saturday night staple, with the complaints made against some of its pros from yesteryear taking the shine off the usually glistening glitterball.
This translated into the viewing figures for last week’s launch that managed to attract just 5.5 million viewers – over 700,000 down from last year’s launch.
Talk of Strictly losing its charm and question marks over its standing in British TV culture moving forward has remained. The inability to publish the results of the investigation has done little to remove the sequinned elephant that remains in the ballroom.
However, BBC bosses have the tool at their disposal to silence the whispers and ensure the 20th-anniversary special becomes memorable for all the right reasons – that tool is McCausland.
The comedian, who’s the show’s first-ever blind contestant, was the only contestant during a pre-recorded 100-minute-long launch that made the entire extravaganza not only bearable but enjoyable.
Of course, there was no mention of the saga that has engulfed the series for the past nine months – in itself creating more online chatter about the ordeal – but when McCausland was on-screen, viewers were too busy belly-laughing to remember the supposed unsavoury antics of the rehearsal room.
“Like Shayne (Ward) I’ve also been practicing in front of the mirror,” was McCausland’s opening line as he was introduced to viewers on Saturday, a joke that prompted Claudia Winkleman to keel over and for his cast mates to burst into hysterics.
The one-liners kept coming thick and fast. “I might as well get the jokes out now, I’m only here for three weeks.”
When asked what he expected from the series – a template question typically met by monotonous responses from the rest of the cast – McCausland brilliantly replied: “Not a clue. I mean, there’s no point in listening to it, is there?
“Listening to some people give some scores about songs. So I don’t know what I’m getting into, I don’t know any of the dances. There’s no point explaining it to me because you can imagine anything in your head and I’ll have to figure it out as I’m going along, aren’t I? No pressure.”
His chemistry with pro dancer Dianne Buswell was also evident from the get-go. “She is absolutely over the moon having me because she really wants November off.”
McCausland added: “We’re gonna figure it out together, we’re gonna make mistakes, we’re gonna have a laugh about them, and then we’re gonna turn up here and show you all the mistakes we’ve learned.”
Even when the spotlight wasn’t on him McCausland managed to steal the show, hilariously poking fun at TV doctor Punam Krishan over GP waiting times.
Therefore, it’s no surprise Buswell and McCausland have quickly emerged as this year’s fan-favourite couple, with social media flooded with a shade of yellow from laughing emojis that require sunglasses just to wade through.
However, if the BBC has any hope that this year’s series can offer an alternative to the narrative set by the investigation, it has to utilise McCausland. And it must avoid repeating a dire mistake it’s made in years gone by.
McCausland must not and can not be treated as merely this year’s comic relief act.
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Yes, his humour will undoubtedly lend itself to more light-hearted routines. Yes, by his own admission, his disability may mean he won’t emerge as a candidate for a West End role next year.
But he must be given the respect and courtesy of being given routines and musical numbers that will showcase his ability on the dancefloor.
Fans have already seen bosses lean into the whole novelty shtick this year – Paul Merson’s opening dance is to the football-themed anthem Vindaloo by Fat Les.
Even Merse was reportedly unhappy with being made the butt of the joke for the first live show of the series when he was told of the decision while filming for the launch show.
Then there are previous contestants and their memorable-for-all-the-wrong-reasons displays – Ed Balls and Gangnam Style, Ann Widdecombe’s mop-like dragging across the floor, Tony Adams in an Arsenal kit… the list goes on.
John Sergeant proved such a hit during his time on the show – despite being given tongue-in-cheek routines and repeatedly finishing bottom of the judges’ scores – that he quit the competition himself.
Acknowledging that his spot in the contest had become a novelty, he explained at the time of his exit: “The trouble is that there is now a real danger that I might win the competition. Even for me, that would be a joke too far.”
If Strictly bosses want McCausland to stay in the competition as long as possible – and they do – then they mustn’t adopt this kind of approach to his routines.
While the comedian has joked he’ll only last three weeks, the BBC must do all they can to ensure that doesn’t happen.
