Chris McCausland admits 'it broke me down' as he talks true cost of winning Strictly

Strictly Come Dancing champion Chris McCausland says he "had no resilience left" towards the end of his stint on the show last year. The comedian, who won the Glitterball trophy alongside his professional dance partner Dianne Buswell, has opened up about the emotional and physical toll of competing on the hit BBC show.

As Strictly’s first-ever blind contestant, his journey was not only groundbreaking but also demanding, as it required a completely new way of learning to dance.

Unlike other contestants who could visually copy their professional partners, Chris had to rely entirely on touch, feel, and sound with every step, turn, and movement.

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Speaking to The Times, the 48-year-old said of the strain it had on him: "By week 12 of Strictly, I was so depleted in every aspect of my being. I had no resilience left. It broke me down week by week."

Chris went on to say he couldn't think of another show on television "that is that exposing, consuming, relentless, pressurised and under that much scrutiny".

"What me and Dianne were able to do together took us by surprise," he added.

"It gave people something joyful to connect with on the show. It felt remarkable to be a part of it."

Speaking further about their progress, Chris admitted that he and Dianne "didn’t have a clue" how they were going to make it work, but they managed to figure it out through determination.

He added of the technique: “It was a bit of bending me into position and saying, ‘Put your hand here'. I had to feel how she had her feet on the floor. Every week was a new puzzle to solve.”

Despite the challenges, the pair’s partnership became one of the most inspiring stories in Strictly history.

Viewers were captivated by their connection and creativity, with their breathtaking Waltz to You’ll Never Walk Alone leaving a lasting impression.

In the performance, Chris walked unaided for a brief but powerful moment before Dianne proudly joined him again.

Their emotional dance was met with a standing ovation, tears from the judges, and a high score of 35 out of 40 points on the night.

Judge Motsi Mabuse praised the comedian for his courage and determination at the time, telling him: "You are a role model for each and every one of us. You’ve shown us that everything is possible if you fight. You didn’t just show us dancing - you gave us inspiration.”

Head judge Shirley Ballas was also visibly moved and told Chris he would "never walk alone", following his time on the show.

“I think the whole country will be following everything that you do,” she added, before going on to praise Dianne as "a special teacher" for what she had achieved with Chris.

Earlier this year, the pair also received the Memorable Moment award at the BAFTAs for their tear-jerking performance.

Strictly Come Dancing continues Saturday at 6.30pm on BBC One.