This article strictly reflects the final results.
Comedian Chris McCausland, Strictly Come Dancing’s first blind contestant, has been crowned this year’s winner.
The 47-year-old beat JLS singer JB Gill, actress Sarah Hedland and former Low Islander Tasha Ghori to win the Glitter Ball trophy in Saturday’s live final on BBC One.
McCausland, who was the bookmakers’ favorite to win, performed three dances with partner Dianne Buswell.
He said his win was for him, “and for everyone out there who’s been told they can’t do something or thinks they can’t”.
“It just goes to show with opportunity and support and determination, anything can happen,” he added.
As always, one dance was chosen by the judges in the grand finale, one was their favorite dance of the series, and the other was a show dance.
The judges gave advisory scores but the public made the final decision.
McCausland, 47, and Buswell performed routines including their Waltz to You Will Never Walk Alone by Jerry and the Pacemakers in the grand final.
The couple also repeated their duet selection routine for Instant Karma by John Lennon.
When they performed it for the first time last month, It went viral on social media Thanks to a “blackout moment”, designed to mimic McCausland’s experience of blindness.
He repeated the moment in the grand final, impressing the judges and earning him a score of 38.
“Chris, I’m upset because of you, and I said I’m not going to cry in this final,” said judge Motsi Mabuse, as she wiped away tears.
McCausland was registered blind in his 20s and 30s after slowly losing his sight to retinitis pigmentosa. He is the first blind contestant on the BBC programme.
BBC/PAThe winning pair faced stiff competition from the remaining pairs – JB Gill and Lauren Oakley, Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec, and Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola.
Gill and Oakley took to the dance floor first.
The pair performed routines including a show dance to a Motown medley and a Viennese waltz to Let’s Go Fly a Kite from Mary Poppins.
The latter earned the first top marks of the night, with a straight 10 from the judges.
It came after the singer’s original dance partner, Amy Dowden Forced to exit the series Due to a foot injury last month.
Next, it was time for Ghauri and Scourgenick, who performed their American Smooth routine for Someone Who Loved You by Lewis Capaldi.
They also performed a show dance to Sing, Sing, Sing by Benny Goodman.
Ghori is Strictly’s second deaf contestant, three years after Rose Elling Ellis won the competition.
There was also a touching moment, when her brother surprised her, having just returned from Australia.
“Can’t describe it,” he said with a hug. “Follow your dreams. You are very special.”
BBC/PAAt the end, Hadland and Coppola performed a routine including the Cha Cha to Like a Prayer by Madonna.
He also did an American Smooth, which scored him a 39 out of 40 – despite Coppola suffering from a wardrobe malfunction.
Gill and Ghori topped the final leaderboard with 119 points – followed by Hedland with 118 and McCausland with 116.
But after weeks of tangos, salsas and foxtrots, it was McCausland and Buswell’s night when they topped the public vote.
A charity has hailed McCausland’s win, saying it would “put many more disabled people on the biggest TV shows”.
Steven Morris, who is deaf and campaigns officer for disability charity Sense, said: “Chris’ historic Strictly Come Dancing win shows that given opportunities and support, disabled people can break down barriers they may have thought they had. I cannot do many wrongs.”
He added: “This is an important moment for representation.”
BBC/PAOther highlights of the night included a spectacular dance number, where Worth It singer Ray was joined by Strictly Professionals.
The entire 2024 lineup also returns for another regular season.
There have been a lot of twists and turns in the show’s 20th anniversary year.
Highlights included. Bollywood music is coming to the ballroom.when contestant Panamkrishna and her co-star Gorkha Marquez danced to the 2001 hit Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham Se Bole Chouriyan.
This was the first time in the show’s history that a contestant couple performed on a traditional Bollywood song.
Controversy also broke out when dancer Katya Jones was seen removing her partner Wyn Evans’ hand from her waist.
he later said It was “nonsense” that the moment made him feel uncomfortable in any way.
It comes after a difficult summer for the show, in which several former celebrities spoke out harshly about their experiences.
The BBC apologized to Amanda Abington and upheld some of her complaints against her 2023 dance partner Giovanni Pernice, including verbal bullying and harassment, but cleared her of the most serious claims.
The corporation also introduced new duty of care measures, including chaperones at rehearsals.
This year’s series started in September. With 15 celebrities in the running including DIY SOS presenter Nick Knowles, gladiator and Olympian Montel Douglas and three-time Olympic champion Tom Dean.
EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick, Eighties pop star Toyah Wilcox and singer Shayne Ward also appeared on the show.
The series was judged by Shirley Blass, Antoine du Becque, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mavius.
The 2023 competition was won by Coppola and Coronation Street actress Elle Leitch.