Strictly Come Dancing’s Chris McCausland has been going through a ‘difficult’ period with health problems

Strictly Come Dancing favorite and comedian Chris McCausland went through a ‘really tough time’ when he went completely blind aged just 22, a lifelong friend has revealed

by Chris McCausland battle with a ‘very difficult’ health problem has been revealed by a close friend. The comedian, who wrote history as Strictly Come Dancing’s first blind participant this year due to retinitis pigmentosa, was completely blind at the age of 22.

His lifelong friend Kev Matthews, who is also blind, opened up about the tough times, saying: “It was hard as a friend to see him go through it. I was living with him when he lost his sight along with Neil (their friend Neil Churchill).

“We found it very difficult to know how to support him properly. But the way he came out was just incredible.”

Chris, now working with professional Dianne Buswell on the BBC One show is the bookmakers’ favorite to win. Despite a friend joking that ‘he has two left feet. He’s never been able to dance,” he admires Chris’s determination: “This is incredibly out of his comfort zone, but what I’m saying is I’ve never met a more determined man.

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“I knew when he went on this show that he was going to kill it, and that he was going to give it his all. I’m just in total awe of him,” reports the Manchester Evening News.

The duo’s impressive performances and strong chemistry have captivated viewers across the country.

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The comedian told Heat Magazine about his modest expectations for the show, admitting that he contacted Dianne after each episode and said, “I got away with it, didn’t I?”

However, performing in front of the Strictly audience is a piece of cake for the blind prankster. His fellow comedian Justin Moorhouse highlighted the challenges Chris faced when he started doing stand-up, saying: “When you’re a blind man and you walk on stage in front of 400 or 500 people in the comedy shop, and the crowd is loud and ready , a person with all his senses must be fully alert.”

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Justin added: “There’s no point in people feeling sorry for him and people thinking ‘oh, bless him’.”

Chris and Dianne will dazzle viewers again tonight (Saturday, November 2) on BBC One on Strictly Come Dancing at 6.30pm.