Strictly Come Dancing’s Chris McCausland has branded one dance ‘horrible’ after suffering a big blow in rehearsals

The moment reportedly happened during an intense rehearsal for the pair’s upcoming live routine, when timing — as McCausland joked — went “very wrong, very fast.” His pro partner was practicing a fast spin and high kick, a move meant to wow the audience on Saturday night.

But with McCausland’s visual impairment and the rapid choreography, one mistimed step turned into a full-blown collision. “All I felt was this whack — right across my face,” he said. “I thought I’d lost a tooth! It was like being hit by a football boot made of glitter.”

Despite the shock, McCausland said he took it all in stride. “It hurt like hell for a few seconds, and I honestly thought I was going to throw up. But then I just started laughing — because, really, what else can you do?

I mean, if you’re going to get kicked in the face, at least it’s by a professional dancer on prime-time TV.” His sense of humor, as always, shone through even as he described what sounded like a painful ordeal.

The comedian’s partner, who was reportedly horrified by the accident, rushed to check if he was okay. “She kept apologizing over and over,” McCausland said with a grin. “I told her, ‘It’s fine — I didn’t see it coming!’”

His quick wit and calm reaction diffused the tension instantly, with the rest of the rehearsal team bursting into laughter. Still, producers made sure he was properly checked out afterward, confirming that he hadn’t sustained any serious injury.

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Chris McCausland said Dianne Buswell kicked him in the face while rehearsing(Image: BBC)

Strictly Come Dancing winner Chris McCausland was “kicked so hard he almost threw up” during rehearsals for the BBC show. The 48-year-old lifted the famous Glitterball Trophy with professional dancer Dianne Buswell last year.

While the pair won over judges and audiences alike, even picking up a BAFTA for their waltz to You’ll Never Walk Alone. Dianne told Liverpool-born Chris she was “so proud” of him immediately after the emotional performance.

However there was one dance in particular that Chris wasn’t fond of. The comedian dubbed the samba “a stupid dance” and “bloody horrible” after struggling with the routine.

To make matters worse for Chris, he suffered a major blow in rehearsals when a stray foot from Australian professional Dianne struck him in the head. He recalled the moment in his new memoir, Keep Laughing

Chris wrote: “There was a move in this stupid dance where I was behind Dianne and she would drop down onto my outstretched arms while kicking her foot high over her head, and on one occasion in rehearsals I leaned too far forward as she kicked too far back, and she caught me so hard in the face that I almost threw up and had to lie down for 20 minutes to recover.”

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Dianne and Chris won Strictly together last year(Image: Instagram)

Fans have since praised McCausland for his resilience and good humor, saying his lighthearted approach makes him one of this year’s most inspiring Strictly contestants. Many viewers have already fallen in love with his sharp comedy and upbeat attitude, describing him as “pure joy” on the dance floor. One fan wrote on social media, “Chris is an absolute legend. He takes everything that comes his way — even a flying kick — and still manages to make everyone laugh!”

Behind the laughs, however, the incident highlights the extraordinary challenges McCausland faces as a blind contestant competing in one of television’s most physically demanding shows. Known for his quick wit and deadpan delivery, the Liverpool-born comedian has been open about the unique difficulties of learning to dance without sight. “It’s all about trust,” he explained in a recent behind-the-scenes clip. “I can’t watch the steps, so I rely on her to guide me through every movement. It’s terrifying sometimes, but also amazing when it clicks.”

Sources close to the production team say the mishap hasn’t dampened McCausland’s enthusiasm. In fact, he’s reportedly more determined than ever to master the routine. “He came in the next day with a bit of a bruise but a huge grin,” said one insider. “He was joking that he’d ‘survived the Strictly gauntlet’ and that it was all part of the training. The guy’s a total pro — nothing rattles him.”

Chris, who was the show’s first blind contestant, joked that Dianne’s kick would have left him “half blind” if he could see. He said: “I took the entire impact of her flying foot right on one eyeball.

“It’s honestly a good job they didn’t work already or I would have been doing that dance half blind anyway and Strictly would have had an insurance payout like no other.”

Chris says he and Dianne opted for Halloween for the samba, performing a “tongue-in-cheek zombie horror”. Although he believes “part of the problem” he had with the routine was a change in running order.

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Chris and Dianne performed a Halloween-themed samba(Image: BBC)

The comic opened the show meaning he had less time to practice beforehand, he says. He found himself having a “panic” before the pair opened the show.

Chris also found himself struggling to remember the moves before taking to the dancefloor. Dianne however “dragged” him out of the line-up ahead of the routine so they could practice.

However Chris fears he found himself overcompensating for his nerves. He explained: “I didn’t make a mistake in our samba, but I certainly over-compensated for nerves with a bit too much energy.

“Apparently the top half of my body was having a bit too much fun and the judges didn’t like that. This is what I mean about the samba, though: the bottom half of your body has to do so much all at the same time, but your top half has to pretend nothing is happening. It’s a stupid dance.”

Comedian Chris McCausland has revealed that his journey on Strictly Come Dancing has been far from smooth — quite literally. The 46-year-old comic, who is completely blind, opened up about a painful rehearsal mishap that left him stunned, bruised, and momentarily sick after taking a powerful accidental kick to the face from his professional dance partner. “She kicked me so hard I nearly threw up,” McCausland confessed, laughing as he recalled the incident during an interview this week.

The comedian’s participation has been widely celebrated as a groundbreaking moment for representation on Strictly Come Dancing. As the first blind contestant to take part in the show’s history, McCausland’s performances have been praised for their courage, humor, and authenticity. Many viewers have found his journey deeply moving, especially as he continues to prove that disability doesn’t define determination or joy.

In interviews, McCausland has repeatedly said that while he’s enjoying the glitz and glamour of Strictly, his main goal is to inspire others. “I want people who might think something’s impossible to see me up there and go, ‘You know what, maybe I can give it a try too,’” he shared. “Sure, I might get kicked in the face along the way, but that’s just part of the fun, isn’t it?”

Even his co-stars have rallied around him, praising his humor and grit. Fellow contestants have described him as “the heart of the show,” while judges have commended his courage and charm on the dance floor. Head judge Shirley Ballas reportedly told him after his last performance, “You bring more than dance — you bring heart, laughter, and inspiration.”

Despite the unexpected bruise and a temporarily sore jaw, McCausland insists he’s not holding a grudge — or slowing down. “She felt terrible about it, bless her,” he said of his dance partner. “But honestly, it’s Strictly! You’ve got to expect a few bruises along the way. At least now I’ve got a proper ‘battle scar’ to show for it.” He added with a grin, “Next time, I’ll wear a helmet — or maybe just keep my head down when she spins.”

As the next live show approaches, fans are eagerly waiting to see how McCausland and his partner bounce back from the accident. Judging by his humor and determination, the comedian will likely turn the mishap into another memorable moment — one that perfectly captures why audiences have embraced him so warmly.