Comic at No 3 on the leaderboard

Chris McCausland won 35 points from Strictly's judges tonight - his best score in five weeks of the hit BBC show.

The 8 and three 9s put him and Dianne Buswell in third place on the leadboard, having come sixth every other week so far.

They performed the waltz to the Liverpool FC anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone by Gerry and the Pacemakers.

Tearful judge Shirley Ballas told the comedian: 'Your footwork was spectacular, [you] attempted to keep frame and it’s improved since your foxtrot'.

Anton Du Beke said McCasuland's 'flow and timing' was 'exquisite', adding: 'I had a moment where I welled up' and And  Motsi Mabute said: 'It transcended technique, I felt every emotion.'

Even the most exacting judge, Craig Revel Horwood, who awarded the 8, called the stand-up's dance 'brilliant' although he spotted some technical flaws, including McCausland's elbow being 'too low'.

The blind comic fired back, jokingly: 'Your beard doesn’t suit you and even I know that.'

McCausland also gave a shout-out to Strictly's often-overlooked vocalist, Tommy Blaize, following his emotional rendition of the song.

Published: 19 Oct 2024