Dance expert reveals how blind Strictly contestant Chris McCausland practises routines-Joel Harley-Entertainment – Metro

Comedian Chris McCausland is among this year’s Strictly line-up (Picture: Channel 4/Shutterstock)

A dance expert has revealed how comedian Chris McCausland has been practicing his Strictly Come Dancing routines.

The 47-year-old star is best known for his appearances on BBC panel shows Have I Got News For You and QI, and starring in his Channel 4 travelogue Wonders of the World I Can’t See.

He’s recently made Strictly history as the show’s first blind contestant, having being paired with pro partner Dianne Buswell, 35, for this year’s competition.

The comedian, who lost his sight aged 22, has consistently impressed since his debut. In the past two weeks, he and Dianne have performed an energetic Foxtrot to Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy, and a cha-cha to the Beatles’ Twist and Shout.

Judges and audiences alike have been left impressed by Chris’s performance so far – with bookies even going so far as to put him as favourite to take the glitterball trophy.

And, as Chris’s Strictly journey continues, a dance expert has weighed in to reveal how he practices his dance routines.

The comedian has taken Strictly by storm (Picture: BBC)

Chris has emerged early favourite to win the competition (Picture: BBC)

Speaking to The Guardian, expert Rashmi Becker – who leads ballroom classes for blind people with Step Change Studios – shared insight into Chris’s training routine.

‘I was really impressed, I was blown away actually,’ she told the newspaper.

‘To those of us with sight, we learn visually, and we pick up visual cues. So to be able to do the tricks and stunts he did requires a really good understanding of timing and rhythm and understanding that movement and connection with his partner, so for his first week he did brilliantly,’ she revealed.

The comedian has swapped the stand-up stage for the dancefloor (Picture: ITVShutterstock)

Chris is best known for his appearances on shows such as Would I Lie To You and QU (Picture: BBC)

She went on to describe how Chris and Dianne would use physical cues to plan where he might move – as well as the Strictly pro physically positioning him herself.

Chris’s final performance would then be a combination of muscle memory combined with careful description as to exactly how and where he should move on the night.

Rashmi suggested that Chris might familiarise himself with the dancefloor prior to his performances, revealing how he might walk around the space to understand it.

The music, meanwhile, could take on even greater importance for Chris – as missed steps will be more difficult for him to catch up on without being able to see his partner.

Chris’s performances have left audiences in tears (Picture: BBC)

After only two weeks, Chris has blown audiences away – the tears shed as his performances aired becoming known as ‘the Chris McCausland effect.’

Meanwhile, the BBC enabling audio description for the series for the first time has made this year’s Strictly the most inclusive to date.

While Chris enjoyed critical and audience acclaim, Diver Tom Dean was the first to go. The remaining contestants will take to the stage for Movie Week tonight – save for Nick Knowles, who has been forced to drop out after injury.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE : The BBC has ditched Strictly same-sex pairings and proved a valuable point

MORE : Strictly’s Chris McCausland delivers ‘line of the series’ with epic dig

Entertainment – MetroRead More