Strictly Come Dancing: Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell win Glitterball Trophy in tear-jerking finale
The comedian took home the glitterball trophy after reducing all the judges to tears with his emotional final performances
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Your support makes all the difference.Strictly Come Dancing 2024 has been won by Chris McCausland and his partner Dianne Buswell.
The pair were vying against Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola, Tasha Ghouri dancing with Aljaž Škorjanec and JB Gill and his pro partner Lauren Oakley in Saturday night’s tear-jerking grand final (14 December).
McCausland was a firm favourite to win, and is now the first blind contestant to become a Strictly champion.
The comedian’s first two dances of the night – a couple’s choice to “Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)” by John Lennon and a show dance to “You Get What You Give” by New Radicals – had an emotional impact, as judges Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas were left in tears.
And his third caused even more sobbing. McCausland and Buswell were both in tears at the end of their routine — a performance of their Waltz to “You Never Walk Alone” by Gerry and the Pacemakers. Buswell’s parents in the audience were also crying, along with the panel and seemingly everyone in the Clauditorium.
Prior to the live final, McCausland is reported to have faced a last-minute change of plan as his parents couldn’t travel to Hertfordshire to support him due to illness.
His mother Valerie had caught the flu, and was unable to travel from their home in Liverpool to the Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, where the live final took place. McCausland’s father, John, told The Daily Mail he would be remaining at home to look after her.
Reflecting on his win on Saturday night, McCausland admitted he had predicted he would have been the first person eliminated from the competition because he didn’t think he could dance.
“It shows that with opportunity, support and determination, that anything can happen,” he said.
The comedian then dedicated his victory to anybody who “got told or thought that they couldn’t do something”.
Craig’s 100th 10
The judge has been invited up to the Clauditorium, where he’s been congratulated for finally awarding his 100th 10, having judged 22 series of Strictly.
“Anton did it in about six weeks,” quipped Claudia Winkleman.
Tasha and Aljaz redo their Couple’s Choice
Of all the finalists, Tasha is the contestant whose Judges’ Pick and Couple’s Favourite scored highest first time around.
The judges have asked her and Aljaz to perform their Couple’s Choice to P!nk’s “What About Us” again, with Motsi delivering the news and giving them some last-minute tips.
Last time, Craig was the only judge who didn’t score the routine with a 10. Could he hand out his 101st 10 to Tasha?
Tasha’s Couple’s Choice is just as stunning second time around
The standards are seriously high tonight, aren’t they? That was just as beautiful as when they performed it for the first time and the pair looked even more confident in their lifts, which was a hugely noticeable improvement. Surely Craig won’t be able to find any faults in that?
‘Possibly the best dancer we’ve ever seen'
“I think that was beautiful,” said Motsi. “Being able to be as skilled as you and having that freedom, making that look easy... it’s really tough. You have that grace, you have star quality.”
Shirley added: “Such a magically musical body. There’s not a part of you that doesn’t dance to the music. Fabulous.”
“I’ve written so much to say... could you be the best dance we’ve ever had on Strictly? Possibly,” said Anton.
Craig concluded: “You have the most amazing extension, the most incredible elevation and beautiful placement of feet. It was stunning.
Tasha’s scores are in...
She’s landed 39! Yes, it was Craig who scored the routine with a 9.
Chris and Craig bond in the training room
The Judges’ Pick for Chris and Dianne is their Couple’s Favourite to “Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)” by John Lennon, which scored them 33 back in week eight.
And in a lovely move, it was Craig who delivered the news to the pair. Chris and Craig have had such brilliant banter throughout the series and it’s lovely to see them in the rehearsal room together.
Chris brings the joy
I know we’re only half an hour in but is anyone else feeling a bit overwhelmed? All of the celebs seem to have relaxed into their routines this week, and Chris did a phenomenal job.
You can see the joy on his face, which is just brilliant. And like Tasha and JB, he definitely improved that routine second time around.
Craig told them: “You took the notes so thank you for that. The transitions were a lot smoother.”
Motsi is in tears, which makes me feel a lot better. “All the 300 hours [putting make-up] on my face is for nothing,” she quipped.
Chris’s scores are in...
He received a 33 for this routine first time around — and now he’s landed a 38.
That was thanks to an 8 from Craig, 10s from Motsi, Shirley and 10.
Sarah receives a training room visit from Shirley
Sarah and Vito’s Judges’ Pick is their American Smooth and they’ve received the news with a visit from head judge Shirley Ballas.
“It couldn’t be better for me that Shirley walked through that door,” Sarah said.
The head judge explained: “The reason why we’ve picked this dance for you is we see so much potential.”
Sarah delivers a beautiful American Smooth
Their week eight performance of this routine won a total of 33 points, so there's a decent amount of room for improvement here.
Just like the other finalists, Sarah looks even more confident and at ease on the dancefloor this week. Maybe it’s the fact the judges’ scores are just guides for viewers? Whatever the reason, it’s fantastic.
Those lifts were beautiful and the transitions into and out of them were even smoother this time around. Sarah has defintely done a lot to make herself proud.
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