BBC Strictly star left 'broken' after just one day of rehearsals as they drop 'clue' about partner's identity
Chris McCausland opened up about his first day of rehearsals
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing star Chris McCausland has teased his fans about who he will be partnered with this year as rehearsals have begun to take place ahead of the 20th-anniversary series.
Despite the series being shrouded with negativity due to Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima's axing, bosses have remained adamant that the show will go on - introducing new rules for the season.
Fans have been desperate to find out which celebrity will be paired with what professional dancer, with McCausland issuing a small hint on his X account today.
"First day done. I feel broken already #Strictly," he penned before one fan teased: "And that’s just the spray tan. I really want to know who your partner is."
McCausland revealed: "I'll give you a clue, it's a girly."
Elsewhere, fans commented on how excited they were to see McCausland in the show, leaving one to note: "Get your feet in a bowl of iced water! You're gonna be brilliant."
Someone else said: "Wait until tomorrow morning, you’ll feel muscles that you didn’t know you had. It’ll get easier though, I think." (sic)
When McCausland was first announced to be joining the show, he said: "If anybody out there is thinking - How the hell is he going to do that? - then rest assured that I am thinking exactly the same thing.
"I don't dance, I haven't danced, I can't dance, I can't see the dancing I will have to do. What can possibly go wrong? Ok, don't answer that...!"
McCausland started to lose his eyesight 20 years ago due to retinitis pigmentosa and in 2023, he reflected on how "scary and embarrassing" it was at the time.
Chris McCausland gradually lost his sight between the ages of 16 and 21
PA
Speaking on the Channel 4 show Scared Of The Dark, McCausland was asked by Chloe Burrows, 27, if it hurt when he started to lose his sight which then prompted the conversation.
He replied: "Yes it was painful. I haven't been able to see for 20 years. When it started happening it was scary and embarrassing.
"I got myself into bad situations because I didn't want to ask for help. I will never be on a level playing field with everyone else.
"But with this show and giving everyone my condition it has been a joy to be part of it!" leaving the comedian to gradually lose his sight between the ages of 16 and 21.
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Strictly Come Dancing line-up 2024
BBC
Joining McCausland on the show is DIY SOS star Nick Knowles, Olympic hockey champion Sam Quek, Love Island star Tasha Ghouri, Gladiators star Montell Douglas, Olympic swimmer Tom Dean, and EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick.
Also joining them is Miranda star Sarah Hadland, Singer Shayne Ward, The Only Way is Essex star Pete Wicks, TV doctor Punam Krishan, Singer Toyah Willcox, Singer Wynne Evans, and JLS star JB Gill.
Despite many being excited about the series returning, some fans slammed the line-up as the "worst ever", leaving the BBC to defend their decision of having a male-heavy line-up.