Strictly Come Dancing has reportedly signed blind comedian Chris McCausland to compete in their 2024 season.
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.
Show producers are said to be sure the TV personality’s fun-loving personality will capture the nation’s hearts — and according to the Sun, he cannot wait to embrace the challenge.
A source told the publication: ‘Strictly Come Dancing bosses are delighted by the signing and think Chris will be great on the show. He has a hilarious sense of humour and an infectious personality.
Strictly Come Dancing has reportedly signed blind comedian Chris McCausland to compete in their 2024 season. The comedian and CBeebies actor, 46, lost his sight aged 22 due to a hereditary condition, Retinitis Pigmentosa
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
‘Producers are really keen to showcase disability on TV and are conscious of how important it is.’
The Liverpool-born star, who shares his daughter Sophie with wife Patricia, has spoken openly of his sight issues in the past and according to sources, ‘is determined to show it won’t hold him back on the ballroom dance floor’.
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Strictly Come Dancing and Chris McCausland for a comment.
His appearance on this year’s series will be another first for the boundary-pushing competition after Rose triumphed in 2021.
Rose previously revealed that the secret to her success with dance partner Giovanni was partly down to his Italian mannerisms.
The actress, 28, who is profoundly deaf, said his ‘expressive’ and ‘direct’ approach made it easy to communicate directly with him, rather than through an interpreter.
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, she said: ‘The reason why I wanted [Giovanni] is because, in the deaf culture we all know that Italians are the most expressive people…
‘They are very open and very direct.
The Liverpool-born star, who shares his daughter Sophie with wife Patricia, has spoken openly of his sight issues in the past and according to sources, ‘is determined to show it won’t hold him back on the ballroom dance floor’
His appearance on this year’s series will be another first for the boundary-pushing competition after Rose triumphed in 2021
Rose previously r evealed that the secret to her success with dance partner Giovanni wa s partly down to his Italian mannerisms
‘That’s what I wanted and I think it works really well because people in deaf culture are very blunt, so he tells me directly what it is rather than waffle, or try and talk politely around things.
‘He says, ‘This is wrong, do it better’ and then it’s easier for me to do it correctly because it’s clearer for me to understand him.’ She added: ‘You know some people are, ‘Oh a deaf person, I’ll have to be very careful and delicate around them [as] they are so vulnerable’, but he’s not like that, he’s strict.’
But while Rose had previously applauded Giovanni’s teaching technique, the professional dancer has recently been in the center of a media storm.
Following the allegations, Rose said she will ‘not be getting involved’ while he fights ‘to clear his name’ amid a probe into his workplace conduct.
In recent weeks, the professional dancer, 33, has come under fire for his ‘militant’ training style, with the BBC forced to investigate ‘serious workplace misconduct claims’ after three of his celebrity partners sought legal help.
Amanda Abbington is one of the women named in the suit, while the likes of Laura Whitmore and Ranvir Singh have also been critical in their review of him.
Yet it was believed Giovanni was still on good terms with Rose.
Now though, it’s been claimed by sources that Rose is ‘shocked’ by the allegations but ‘believes what the others are saying’.
In recent weeks, the professional dancer, 33, has come under fire for his ‘militant’ training style, with the BBC forced to investigate ‘serious workplace misconduct claims’
A source told The Sun: ‘Rose is finding the whole situation really tough. She had a really great experience with Gio so is really shocked by it all.
‘She of course believes what others are saying but she is just trying to not get involved. She won’t be speaking about it publicly.’
The news will no doubt come as a surprise to Giovanni, who had a positive relationship with the deaf contestant Rose, 29, whom he led to victory in 2021, with the pair going on to win a TV BAFTA for their silent dance routine.
MailOnline contacted Rose’s representatives for comment at the time.
The reports come as Giovanni could face more mounting trouble as ‘at least one or two more celebrities are considering legal action’ against him.
According to The Sun, several women who have danced with the 33-year-old Italian on Strictly are contemplating joining the three existing claimants in a Beeb investigation for ‘serious workplace misconduct claims’.
A source disclosed that several former dance partners of Giovanni’s have been communicating privately and suggested that even more names could come forward.
The source went on to say that the future is unclear for the professional dancer, who vehemently denies any claims of threatening or abusive behaviour and has vowed to ‘clear his name.’
They revealed: ‘Numerous celebrities, all former partners of Gio’s, have been in contact with one another behind the scenes.
‘Three women that we know of have come forward, and taken things a step further with legal action.
‘But Carter Ruck, the prestigious firm acting on behalf of these stars, have quietly been speaking to one or two other potential claimants. In other words, more names could come out of the woodwork.’
Amanda Abbington (pictured) is one of the women named in the suit, while the likes of Laura Whitmore and Ranvir Singh have also been critical in their review of him
Giovanni has faced a wave of scrutiny ever since Amanda (pictured) dramatically quit last year
The professional dancer shared a post to Instagram detailing that he was ‘totally surprised’ by the allegations, which he denies
The claims come after the professional dancer reportedly quit Strictly after the scrutiny became ‘too much’.
Off the back of Giovanni’s departure, friends close to Amanda spoke about how she found the pro dancer ‘abrasive’ and would have to have ‘crisis talks’ with show bosses every week after being left in floods of tears at his ‘tough’ training method with claims it left her ‘bruised’.
Amanda, who dramatically withdrew from last year’s competition and was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after the show, is said to have met with Laura Whitmore and Ranvir Singh earlier this year for an ’emotional summit’ to ‘compare notes’ about their time working with him.
Giovanni shared a post to Instagram detailing that he was ‘totally surprised’ by the allegations, which he denies.
He said in a statement: ‘You will be as surprised as I am that allegations have been made about my dance teaching methods in the media this week.
‘Of course, I reject any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour, and I look forward to clearing my name.
‘Those who have followed my journey on Strictly Come Dancing over the last decade will know that I am passionate and competitive. No-one is more ambitious for my dance partners than me.
‘I have always striven to help them be the very best dancers they can be. This has always come from a place of love and wanting to win – for me and my dance partners.
‘Thank you all once again for your continued love and support!’
Following his post, fans rushed to the comments to share their thoughts with the professional dancer as many of them confessed their love for him.
But while fans were quick to offer their support none of his Strictly co-stars have yet offered any comments on the post.
And none yet appear to have commented on what has happened or offered support on the statement he made.
In 2016, former Love Island host Laura Whitmore said she ‘cried every day’ and felt ‘uncomfortable’ while training with him
The Good Morning Britain presenter Ranvir Singh also complained about Giovanni to producers back in 2020, during their time on the show
Meanwhile his 2022 partner Richie Anderson has unfollowed him on Instagram
Former partners have also come out to back him, including Debbie McGee, the widow of the magician Paul Daniels, who was paired with him in 2017
One notably quiet Strictly star is head judge Shirley Ballas who previously came out in his defence.
In January she called him an ‘absolute gentleman’ amid his feud with his former partner on the series Amanda.
Speaking on Lorraine, Shirley said in response to the revelations: ‘I’ve known Giovanni for many years and he is an absolutely splendid teacher.
‘My only ever experience with him is he is an absolute gentlemen. He gives 100 percent.
‘Strictly and shows like that they are tough shows so you know when you sign up for that kind of thing. It’s quite difficult to do the show.’
Good Morning Britain host Ranvir, who reportedly made a complaint against Giovanni to the BBC in 2020, admitted to feeling ‘scared’ of the Italian.
Meanwhile his 2022 partner Richie Anderson unfollowed him on Instagram.
Some former partners have also come out to back him, including Debbie McGee, the widow of the magician Paul Daniels, who was paired with him in 2017.
Shortly after Amanda’s allegations, Debbie shared a beaming throwback picture of her and Giovanni taken backstage during their stint together. ‘Happy memories, Giovanni and I had the best of times on Strictly,’ she said in the caption.
