Chris McCausland on learning what he's let himself in for

Stand-up Chris McCausland becomes Strictly Come Dancing's first blind contestant when the show returns to BBC One this weekend. Here he talks about coming out of his comfort zone, how not being able to see the moves might affect his performance, and whether he'll be the series's comedy turn.

When you got the call inviting you to take part in Strictly Come Dancing 2024, what made you say yes?

The good thing about stand-up is that a lot of the opportunities that come along on the back of it tend to be things that are outside of your comfort zone. I have found that the further out of my comfort zone I put myself, the more incredible the experience has been. 

Strictly is so far outside of my comfort zone that it might as well be on the moon. By that rationale, I think it could be the best thing I've ever done. Or three weeks I’ll never live down!

Describe Strictly in one word or phrase.

Unknown – I’ve never watched it, for obvious reasons, and I don't get anything really from going back and listening to an episode. I’ve got no idea what I'm getting myself into!

The series is 20 years old this year. What were you doing 20 years ago or what were you doing at age 20?

Twenty years ago I was on the open mic comedy circuit. I had been doing stand-up for about a year and was working in a call centre selling employment law manuals to human resource managers - living the dream, eh!

What have you heard about Strictly from people close to you?

My best mate's wife is obsessed with Strictly, so she is probably the best source of information that I have. However, when she found out I was doing it she couldn't breathe properly and her head nearly exploded, and she hasn't been much use to me since. 

It's not a world I've ever been exposed to and it’s hard to overstate how things that other people take for granted are unknown to me. It wasn’t until three weeks ago that I found out people get fake tans. Then I thought it was just one week, like a fake tan themed week. 

There was also a point a few months ago where someone mentioned ‘if you make it as far as Blackpool,’ and so I thought that about halfway through the series, the whole show just moves to Blackpool for the rest of the series. I thought that for about two months until somebody told me it was just for one week. 

I'm trying to get as much information as I can but I'm learning as I go. I have no preconceived ideas so I'm learning it all.

Which aspects of Strictly are you most looking forward to?

One thing I do like about making TV shows is working in a team. It's collaborative, whereas stand-up is really solitary. Everything I do as a comedian comes from my own head, and I'm in charge of all the decisions. 

So, on Strictly I am really looking forward to working with my dance partner every week, but also to be working as part of a large team who are all just trying to make a great show for people to watch.

Is there a dance that you're most looking forward to trying?

I keep joking that I'm looking forward to mosh-pit week. That's what I grew up with. I grew up with metal and rock and head banging. Let’s see if we can work that in. I'm more apprehensive about the dances where you're not in contact with your partner because I don't really know what that entails and how I will be able to navigate the stage on my own with any real degree of precision.

What you're going to get from me is a certain degree of non-conformist dancing because I won't be able to see the precision of what I’m trying to achieve.

 I think there's going to be, by default, a certain degree of my own version more so than other people because how precise can somebody be teaching me in four or five days? It would be so much easier to watch and see what you’re trying to achieve. 

We'll see, it might work in my favour. It might not.

Do you have a signature dance move you always do at parties?

No, I don't dance. I stand in the corner pretending to watch everybody dance.

Do you think you'll incorporate some comedy into your performances? Or will you be taking it really seriously?

I’ll take the show seriously but I won’t take myself seriously. If we can do something funny then I'm all for that. Maybe I can bring some visual comedy into the dances. I'll be up for having a laugh with the judges, Tess and Claudia, I will be more in my comfort zone for those moments.

Do you think you'll be competitive with the other contestants?

I think it's really hard to be competitive with other people when you don't know what they are doing and how good they are. I won't be standing watching them every week and thinking ‘I need to be better than that’.

 I’ll be able to hear the judges’ comments but I suppose it would be like trying to copy a footballer by listening to the match report, so I think it's fair to say that I’ll be competing with myself each week instead.

• Strictly Comedy Dancing starts this Saturday at 7.20pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Published: 13 Sep 2024