BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Chris McCausland says 'I was so ill' as he gets emotional over live debut

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Chris McCausland has told how he was 'ill with fear' ahead of his first live performance on Strictly Come Dancing as he emotionally opened up alongside dance partner Dianne Buswell.

The first live show of the 2024 series on Saturday night (September 21) saw all 15 of the new Strictly couples perform together for the first time followed by the judges' comments and scores.

Comedian Chris, who has already captured viewers hearts in the live show with his quick-witted comments, was told he was "fabulous" after performing the cha cha to The Beatles classic 'Twist and Shout' with Dianne, which received 23 out of a possible 40 points from the judges. READ MORE: Giovanni Pernice says 'I haven't left' in 'update' after Strictly Come Dancing's return Ahead of their routine in their VT, Dianne was heard explaining how she had been teaching Chris, who is Strictly's first blind contestant the routine.

She said: "I can’t show [Chris] what something needs to look like. "But I’ve found that Chris places his hand on my body or he feels what my arms are doing and then he instantly gets an idea of what he should be doing." And Chris, who lost his sight aged 22 due to a hereditary condition called retinitis pigmentosa, later revealed to co-presenter Claudia Winkleman that training had not been without its difficulties. "[Dianne] kicked me in the head one day," he admitted. "I did not avoid or anticipate it.