Chris McCausland says he’s ‘feeling worn down’ by Strictly after winning show

‘Physically and mentally it takes its toll,’ the comedian said

Chris McCausland has opened up about his wellbeing following the Strictly Come Dancing final.

The comedian, 47, best known for appearing on Have I Got News For You, and his professional partner Dianne Buswell were crowned the winners of the BBC dance competition on Saturday night (14 November).

McCausland, who lost his sight aged 22 due to a hereditary condition called retinitis pigmentosa, made Strictly history as the first blind contestant to win – and take part in – the competition.

Speaking on Lorraine in his first TV interview since the Strictly final, McCausland admitted taking part in the programme had impacted his mental and physical health.

“It’s been a really emotional Saturday night and I’m still kind of feeling worn down by it,” he said.

“Three and a half months [rehearsing] is relentless, it’s consuming,” McCausland continued.

“Physically and mentally it takes its toll.”

Dianne Buswell and Chris McCausland win ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ (PA)

Elsewhere in the interview, the comedian revealed he wouldn’t be taking part in the forthcoming Strictly Come Dancing tour due to conflicting professional commitments.

“I started the [comedy] tour in January this year and I did the first leg till May and then I was meant to be back out again in September but we moved the dates to accommodate Strictly,” he explained.

“It just wasn’t really a consideration at the time as I don’t think anyone thought I would be any good at it,” McCausland added.

“I didn’t think I would be going off the back of Strictly on tour. I thought I would be going off the back of two months off.”

Buswell and McCausland on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ (PA)

Once McCausland’s win was announced by hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on Saturday night, the comedian broke down in tears and hugged his partner, Buswell, who also grew emotional.

Speaking to Daly, McCausland admitted he thought he would have been the first person eliminated from the competition because he didn’t think he could dance.

“We’ve lasted and lasted and Dianne has got so much out of me. She deserves this so much. Every day she’s just positivity and belief and she’s just one of the easiest people to be funny with than I’ve ever met.”

He then joked: “Unless she changes her number, she’s stuck with me.”

McCausland dedicated his victory to anybody who “got told or thought that they couldn’t do something”.

“It shows that with opportunity, support and determination, that anything can happen,” he said.

McCausland and Buswell became emotional after their win (BBC)

Ahead of his Strictly appearance, McCausland said he did not want to “bang viewers over the head” with his blindness, stating: “It’s great that there’s people coming through who are able to represent disability while also having the experience to do the job properly. There’s no point fast-tracking performers on to TV before they’re ready.”

“I think the best way to represent a disability is to make people forget about it whenever possible. It’s always part of you,” he added.

“But if you can do a show where, say, 80 per cent of it isn’t about being blind, that makes it more impactful and funnier when you do talk about it. I believe in representation within the mainstream.”

Catch up on everything that happened in the live final here.