Strictly Come Dancing fans were left furious at the judges’ dance choices for the final show on Saturday as they claimed it ‘shouldn’t be allowed’.
Chris McCausland and his dance partner Dianne Buswell were crowned 2024’s champions after he made history as the show’s first ever blind contestant.
The comedian, 47, pipped fellow finalists Tasha Ghouri, JB Gill and Sarah Hadland to the post in the ‘best ever’ final on Saturday.
The final, which was the highest-scoring ever, saw all the couples each perform three dances for the judges before hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced Chris as the winner of the much sought after Glitterball trophy.
And while viewers were glad to see Chris waltz his way to victory, many were frustrated over the dance choices.
Each couple performed three routines in the almost three hour show including a routine chosen by the judges, their own favourite dance and dance for the final show.
Strictly Come Dancing fans were left furious at the judges’ dance choice for the final show after Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell took the Glitterball home
Chris McCausland and his professional partner Dianne Buswell were crowned 2024’s champions after the comedian made history as the show’s first ever blind contestant
Each couple performed three routines in the almost three hour show including a routine chosen by the judges, their own favourite dance and dance for the final show
JLS singer JB performed their quarter-final Viennese waltz to Let’s Go Fly A Kite from Mary Poppins while Tasha Ghouri performed her couple’s choice dance to What About Us by P!nk.
For his winning performance, Chris recreated his ‘blackout moment’ as part of his couple’s choice dance to Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) by John Lennon.
But fans of the show were left frustrated that both Chris and Tasha had been able to perform their couple’s choice while JB and Sarah had not.
Viewers took to X to share their thoughts, explaining they didn’t think it was fair to allow couple’s choice dances in the final because it didn’t show off proper ballroom dancing technique.
They wrote: ‘Not a fan of Couple’s Choice in general, but don’t think it should be an option for the final. We already have a showdance that could be any style. Should be one ballroom, one Latin and the showdance #StrictlyComeDancing’.
While another said: ‘I really don’t think Couples Choice dances should feature in the final as it means we’re effectively seeing two show dances, without defined technique. I’m glad though that this year we actually have some ballroom dances too #strictly #ITT’
A third said: ‘Couples choice shouldn’t be being done on the final when you’re doing a show dance later on #Strictly’
While one fan wrote: ‘I’ve always said a Couples Choice should never be a judges choice because it’s a similar rule for the show dance.
Tasha performed her couple’s choice dance to What About Us by P!nk alongside her partner Aljaz Skorjanec
But fans of the show were left frustrated that both Chris and Tasha had been able to perform their couple’s choice
‘Chris & Tasha should’ve had one Latin & one ballroom dance each to make it fair. #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing’.
Other commented: ‘Not a fan of this sort of “couples choice” dance. I feel like they should have to do 1 ballroom and 1 Latin #StrictlyComeDancing’; ‘I’m old school,I think they should do 1 Latin,1 Ballroom & the showdance. No couples choice in the final #StrictlyComeDancing’.
One fan called the couple’s choices ‘redundant’, writing: ‘the masterclass thing is kind of a good idea but when two of them are doing couples choice it feels a bit… redundant? #strictly’.
Despite fan frustration, Chris took home the Strictly trophy to much applause.
After being announced as the winner of the 2024 show, the funnyman broke down in tears as he was embraced by his fellow celebs before throwing Dianne triumphantly over his shoulder while the audience went wild.
Asked how the moment felt by Tess and Claudia, Chris said: ‘It’s astonishing, I don’t know what to say. I honestly thought I was going to go out in the first week or two and I know nobody went out in the first week but I still thought I could.
‘We’ve just lasted and lasted and [Dianne] has got so much out of me and she deserves [the trophy] so much’ as he went on to gush over her ‘positivity’ and ‘belief’.
He then joked: ‘Unless she changes her number she’s stuck with me. This is for [Dianne] and everyone out there, it just shows that with the opportunity and support anything is possible!’.
Viewers took to X to share their thoughts, explaining they didn’t think it was fair to allow couple’s choice dances in the final because it didn’t show off proper ballroom dancing technique
Chris gained his first perfect score of 40 points for a waltz to You’ll Never Walk Alone by Gerry and the Pacemakers, which was his final dance of the series and left the judges and viewers in tears.
Speaking earlier in the show, Chris said: ‘I hope [me being on Strictly] will make a difference in people’s attitudes towards people who are blind and disabled people.
‘When I started this my daughter was really nervous, she’s eleven, and I think she fed off my fears and worries but she’s been enjoying watching me and she’s really proud.
‘I’ve learned that I am more resilient, I think It will take a lot more to scare me in the future and something doesn’t have to be perfect to be a success.
