Strictly Come Dancing reveals its 2024 lineup

Strictly Come Dancing has confirmed its first celebrity for the 2024 series.

Blind comedian Chris McCausland appeared on This Morning to reveal his excitement at appearing on the BBC show. 

The signing is a first for the dance competition which previously featured deaf EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis who won the glitterball trophy alongside Giovanni Pearce in 2021.

Comedian and CBeebies actor Chris, 46, lost his sight aged 22 due to a hereditary condition, Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Strictly Come Dancing has confirmed its first celeb for the 2024 series. Blind comedian Chris McCausland appeared on This Morning to reveal his excitement at appearing on the BBC show

Chris has been a comedian for over two decades and is a regular face on flagship comedy shows like Have I Got News for You, Would I Lie to You?, QI, The Last Leg, and 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 

He has appeared on Live at the Apollo three times, hosting in 2021, a year that also saw him make his highly acclaimed debut appearance on The Royal Variety Performance.

Chris currently hosts his own Saturday morning chat show for ITV: The Chris McCausland Show. He has also co-written and stars in Bad Tidings a festive family comedy movie that will premier for Sky this Christmas.

The comedian said of his next venture: ‘If anybody out there is thinking – How the hell is he going to do that? – then rest assured that I am thinking exactly the same thing.

‘I don’t dance, I haven’t danced, I can’t dance, I can’t see the dancing I will have to do. What can possibly go wrong? Ok don’t answer that…!’

The Liverpool-born star shares his daughter Sophie with wife Patricia. 

This Morning hosts Josie Gibson and Craig Doyle will be revealing the second celeb contestant later on Monday’s show.

The presenting duo teased clues throughout the show and said there would be a ‘big sparkly reveal’.

Chris has been a comedian for over two decades and is a regular face on comedy shows like Have I Got News for You, Would I Lie to You?, QI and 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown

The first clue showed the back of a man’s head in the dressing room – with guest Giles Brandreth branding them a ‘remarkable’ person.

Chris joked that ‘this is literally the worst kept secret that has ever been in British television,’ after his involvement was first reported last month.

‘It’s been exhausting keeping it a secret when everyone else seems to know.’

‘I kept it a secret for so long and then it was in the papers, at least I can admit it rather than going “I don’t know what you’re on about”. 

Strictly has been plunged into chaos in recent weeks as a number of allegations of abuse from professionals have come to light. 

The scandal erupted when actress Amanda Abbington quit the show last year before claiming that her partner Giovanni Pernice was abusive towards her – later leaving the show.

Strictly has been plunged into chaos in recent weeks as a number of allegations of abuse from professionals have come to light. Graziano Di Prima has been sacked for ‘kicking’ his 2023 partner Zara McDermott

Actress Amanda Abbington complained that professional dancer Giovanni Pernice bullied her during their rehearsals last year – allegations he strongly denies

Soon after it emerged that Graziano Di Prima had been sacked for ‘kicking’ his partner Love Island star Zara McDermott.

Last week Laura Whitmore accused BBC bosses of ‘gaslighting’ her over her Strictly experience with Giovanni .

The TV presenter, 39, who was partnered with the Italian dancer, 33, on the show in 2016, recently confirmed she’d spoken to the show about Giovanni’s ‘inappropriate behaviour’, following her claims that she initially raised concerns to the BBC six years ago. 

And in a dramatic new statement, the star has shed more light on her Strictly experience, telling how it’s ‘all coming out now’ amid the flurry of accusations against the show and its professional dancers. 

Despite the flurry of allegations, Strictly is ploughing ahead with its 2024 series, with the full lineup due to be confirmed in the coming days.

Earlier this month it was revealed TOWIE star Pete Wicks has signed up, despite the news his close pal Zara McDermott was physically and verbally abused by her professional dance partner Graziano Di Prima last year.

Meanwhile ex Arsenal player Paul Merson and DIY SOS star Nick Knowles have also reportedly put on their dancing shoes.