Strictly’s Chris McCausland celebrates final win with Glitterball and parties into the early hours with Janette Manrara
STRICTLY Come Dancing’s fan-favourite champ Chris McCausland couldn’t be parted from his iconic Glitterball trophy as he partied hard following the final.
The blind comedian – who suffered a huge blow just hours before Saturday’s live episode when his family were too sick to travel to the London studios – clung to the accolade while celebrating his amazing show win.
Chris, 47 – the bookies overwhelming favourite for the title – pulled through in a stunning three routines with professional partner Dianne Buswell, 35.
Yet in a final which relied solely on the public vote, he came out top, trumping fellow finalists Miranda actress Sarah Hadland, Love Island star Tasha Ghouri and JLS singer JB Gill to the title.
Yet after the dancefloor action wrapped, it was time for the BBC show stars to party.
8 Out Of 10 Cats panelist Chris beamed as he was accompanied by former Strictly pro and It Takes Two anchor Janette Manrara, 41, whose husband Aljaz Skorjanec was paired with Tasha.
He switched up from his stage outfits to a beige roll-neck, dark trousers and trainers.
Chris wrapped his arm around Janette’s shoulders as they strolled to the party venue – before collecting a Dominoes delivery to re-fuel.
His co-stars also joined in the celebrations, with ITV2 show star Tasha padding around in slippers after an intense three routines in the final.
Wynne Evans flashed a smile after returning to the final as did Corrie star Shayne Ward while rocking up to the after party.
TRUE CHAMP
Chris made history on Saturday as the first ever blind contestant to take part in and win the BBC dance show.
Speaking after his win, a shocked Chris said: “It’s astonishing. I don’t know what to say.
“I honestly thought I could go out in the first week or two. We have just lasted and lasted.
He then thanked his Aussie partner Dianne and said: “She’s positivity, she’s belief, and she’s honestly just one of the easiest people to be funny with.
“She deserves this so much. She’s just honestly one of the easiest people to be funny with the other and unless she changes her number, she’s stuck with me.”
All your Strictly Come Dancing winners
Strictly first kicked off back in 2004, and over the years has crowned 21 winners.
Here is a full list of who has been lucky enough to win the famous Glitterball Trophy:
- 2004 – Natasha Kaplinsky
- 2004 – Jill Halfpenny
- 2005 – Darren Gough
- 2006 – Mark Ramprakash
- 2007 – Alesha Dixon
- 2008 – Tom Chambers
- 2009 – Chris Hollins
- 2010 – Kara Tointon
- 2011 – Harry Judd
- 2012 – Louis Smith
- 2013 – Abbey Clancy
- 2014 – Caroline Flack
- 2015 – Jay McGuiness
- 2016 – Ore Oduba
- 2017 – Joe McFadden
- 2018 – Stacey Dooley
- 2019 – Kelvin Fletcher
- 2020 – Bill Bailey
- 2021 – Rose Ayling-Ellis
- 2022 – Hamza Yassin
- 2023 – Ellie Leach
On winning the coveted Glitterball, he said: “This is for her (Dianne) and it’s for everyone out there that thought and got told they couldn’t do something.
“It just shows with opportunity and support and determination anything can happen.”
It is the first time Dianne, who joined the show in 2017, has won Strictly.
She said: “It’s pretty cool.
“Chris says that this is for me, but it’s not for me – this is for me and you, Chris. We did this together.
“This is for both of us, not just me, we worked together and we did it.”
Yet eagle-eyed show fans were quick to call out the winner before the episode even aired after a tell-tale “clue.”