Saturday night’s episode of Strictly Come Dancing left audiences deeply moved by an extraordinary performance from comedian Chris McCausland and his professional partner, Dianne Buswell.
Chris, the show’s first-ever blind contestant, delivered an inspiring routine that touched viewers and brought the studio to its feet.
Chris had been determined to make it to week 10 of the competition, a milestone that coincided with a special moment for Dianne—her parents, Rina and Mark, traveled from Australia to watch their daughter perform live for the first time in seven years.
Their presence added an emotional weight to the evening, further motivating Chris to give it his all on the dance floor.
Speaking earlier this month, Chris reflected on the importance of his partnership with Dianne. “This journey is nothing without her,” he said. ”
She has brought out the best in me, and I hope we’ve been able to give something to each other. If we can get to this moment, stick a fork in me—I’m done. But I’ll stay in this for as long as possible.”
Their dedication paid off. During their powerful Paso Doble, Chris and Dianne delivered a performance that brought Dianne’s father, Mark, to tears, a moment that resonated with viewers across the nation.
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Fans flooded social media with emotional reactions. One wrote, “Dianne’s dad crying after their dance has absolutely sent me. So happy they could be here,” while another shared, “I cannot cope when I see a dad crying with pride.”
A third added, “Dianne’s dad has me bawling,” while someone else simply said, “Oh my Diane’s Dad.” Another viewer, Karen, summed up the sentiment: “Papa Buswell is making me well up. They are so proud of Dianne.”
The judges awarded the pair a commendable score of 33. Reflecting on the moment, Chris said, “I thought it would be a disaster at first.
When it turned out it wasn’t, people started talking about Blackpool, and then Dianne mentioned her parents would be here the week after. That became our goal. It felt like a bit of a pipedream, but we worked hard—and here we are.”
Acknowledging the audience’s role in their journey, Chris added, “There were weeks when we needed the people at home to keep us in. So, thank you to everyone.”
Despite Chris achieving his goal, fans are not ready to see him leave the competition. One supporter tweeted, “In tears again! Love them both. Chris and Dianne to win!” A
nother declared, “If Chris doesn’t win Strictly, there’s no justice. I don’t care if other people are ‘better’—he and Dianne bring the joy, and that’s what it’s about.”
Strictly Come Dancing continues tonight at 7:20 p.m. on BBC One.
