Chris McCausland fiercely defended as BBC Strictly fans label new feature: ‘complete shambles’

Week 10 of Strictly Come Dancing meant it was time for the show’s special dance challenge, a feature which hasn’t been included on the series since 2018.

This year, the remaining couples had to take place in a Samba-thon, with all celebrities and their partners taking to the floor at once.

The judges had to select couples to leave the floor one by one, with the best dancers being the last ones standing.

Comedian Chris McCausland and dance partner Dianne Buswell were the first to be asked to leave just seconds into the competition.

However, floods of comments filled social media pages about how “unfair” the challenge had been on McCausland, who is blind.

Taking to X, one fan fumed: “Complete shambles of a Sambathon dance off. Chris was always going to struggle on a crowded dance floor. Hardly an even contest. Scores throughout all over the place. Judges now voting for their favourites. #strictly.”

“Chris was absolutely robbed with that Sambathon. Never stood a chance. He can’t see or know where the other couples are. Genuinely fuming for them. #strictly,” another admitted.

A third argued: “Not really sure how putting a blind man in a Sambathon with several other couples is in any way fair but there you go. #StrictlyComeDancing #Strictly #ChrisAndDianne.”

“How was Chris supposed to do the Sambathon? He can’t see where the other couples are which is a huge disadvantage. They should have made it fairer when they planned it, because he can’t actually give his dancing 100% when he’s worried about other dancers. #Strictly,” someone else suggested.

Another simply complained: “Never do that monstrosity of sambathon again please #strictly.”

Others enjoyed the additional feature, with one adding: “Forget I ever insulted the sambathon I actually loved it x #strictly.”

“Just loved Chris and Diannes reaction to coming last in the sambathon #strictly,” someone else commented, adding a string of laughing emojis.

McCausland himself definitely took the defeat in good spirits, jokingly cheering and yelling when he was officially given the fewest points at the end of the challenge.

Earlier in the show, he and Buswell had left viewers in floods of tears as they watched his latest performance thanks to some special guests in the audience.

Australian-born dancer Buswell is rarely able to share her career highs with her parents, who live Down Under, but they were able to join for the show and watch their daughter perform live.

Following the Pasodoble, there didn’t seem to be a dry eye in the house as host Tess Daly pointed out tearfully: “Mark is crying… Don’t make me cry, Mark!” while the cameras showed Buswell’s tearful father.

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“He was sobbing his heart out,” Winkleman noted of Mark before she continued: “So was your mum.”

It didn’t take long for fans to join in with the display of emotion, with many taking to social media to express how moved they had been by the special moment.