Strictly winner Chris McCausland recently opened up about the real reasons behind the show's feuds and behind-the-scenes clashes, shedding light on the tensions that sometimes arise between celebrities and their dance partners.
Understanding the Pressures of the Show
In a recent interview, Chris, who won the 2024 series alongside Dianne Buswell, delved into the scandals that rocked the show that year. He acknowledged that differing priorities between celebrities and dance professionals can lead to friction, explaining, "Some people’s objective might be to survive another week, whereas from the dancers’ point of view, the objective is to succeed because that’s their profession; that’s what their reputation is based on. I can see that there can be a clash."
Chris also shared how the intense training regime took a toll on him, saying, "Towards the end it was 15 hours a day, I was broken. I mean, it was relentless. Physically I ached. I had lost weight. I’m probably fitter than I’ve been in ages but I was held together with tape at the end."
The Turbulent Year of Chris' Winning Series
Chris triumphed over contestants like Love Island’s Tasha Ghouri, actress Sarah Hadland, and JLS singer JB Gill in the final. However, his victory was overshadowed by controversy, with allegations leading to an internal investigation by the BBC that resulted in the axing of Giovanni Pernice.
The broadcaster upheld six of the 17 complaints made by Amanda Abbington against Giovanni, apologizing publicly to her and ruling that Giovanni had engaged in bullying behavior.
New Protocols in Place
In response to the probe, the BBC has implemented new duty of care protocols, including having chaperones in rehearsal rooms for celebrities to monitor interactions. The investigation, which reportedly cost taxpayers over £250,000, has brought to light the challenges and pressures faced by contestants and professionals on the popular dance show.
Despite the controversies and challenges, Chris McCausland's win in the 2024 series marked a significant milestone as the first blind contestant to emerge victorious on Strictly Come Dancing.
