Chris McCausland, the winner of the 2024 series of Strictly Come Dancing, has openly discussed his recent split from professional dance partner Dianne Buswell. After winning the popular BBC competition, which celebrates its 20th anniversary, Chris announced he would not be participating in the 2025 Strictly tour, citing prior commitments to his stand-up comedy shows.
The comedian, who made history as the first blind contestant to compete on Strictly, was crowned champion during the glittering final, triumphing over fellow finalists including actress Sarah Hadland, Love Island star Tasha Ghouri, and JLS singer JB Gill. Chris and Dianne's victory was marked by joy, with Chris reminiscing about the experience as "astonishing".
Chris's decision to pass on the Strictly tour arises from the need to fulfill his own comedy tour, Yonks!, which was postponed to accommodate his participation on the dance show. He stated, "My stand-up tour #Yonks continues in a couple of weeks' time. The first three months of the year are completely sold out, but tickets are available for some dates from April onwards…" Chris elaborated on his situation via social media, saying, "I'm afraid I will not be able to do the Strictly tour. My own tour was meant to be on the road in September and many dates were moved to January and February to accommodate doing #Strictly. It's unfortunate as it's been so much fun, but my own dates can't be moved for a second time."
Despite his disappointment at not continuing with Dianne, Chris remains enthusiastic about returning to his comedy roots. On This Morning, he expressed, "It's fine to have two different feelings about the same thing. I would've loved to have done more dancing with Dianne, and it would've been a lot of fun, but also I'm very lucky to have people want to watch me do stand-up, and I'm enjoying getting back to it."
Dianne, who celebrated her own success, confirmed her emotional reaction to their victory. The dancer shared how she "cried like a baby" after winning, explaining, "It’s true, I cried like a baby… I still do whenever I think about it. And I’m glad I'm not the only one who answers the door holding the Glitterball." Chris recounted the moment the couple learned of their win, noting, "Dianne just broke down in tears and was sobbing… The two of us were just holding onto each other crying."
Months after their victory, the duo is preparing for new projects. Chris has announced he will be writing his own memoir, expected to be published by Penguin Michael Joseph in autumn 2025. He humorously remarked about the book process, stating, "I thought Strictly was terrifying but my book has a release date and I haven’t started writing it yet. Don’t worry, I’m going to start right now. It will be really funny, I promise." This promises to add another layer to his already rich story, allowing fans to engage with his life beyond the dance floor.
Dianne humorously chimed in on social media about her desire for recognition in Chris's upcoming autobiography. She commented, "I best get a special mention," sparking playful responses from fans who echoed her sentiments and suggested she deserves her own chapter. These interactions highlight the strong bond between the two, alongside their separate career paths.
Fans continue to celebrate their achievements and support their future endeavors, showcasing the lasting impact of their time on Strictly Come Dancing. Their victory not only marked personal milestones but also represented wider themes of determination and inclusion, with Chris McCausland blazing trails as he mixed comedy and dance—disciplines often viewed as divergent.
With Chris's upcoming stand-up performances and memoir data, as well as Dianne's preparations for the live tour, both stars are set to maintain their prominence on stage and screen. The 2024 Strictly champions may not be competing together for now, but their shared moments and memories remain vivid for fans and followers.