Comedian McCausland tipped to be Strictly's first blind winner

The excitement is building for this year's grand finale of Strictly Come Dancing, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The show has reached its final stage, and four celebrities are competing for the highly sought-after glitterball trophy. The finalists are Chris McCausland, JB Gill, Sarah Hadland, and Tasha Ghouri. Notably, Chris McCausland is the first blind contestant in the history of the show, and he has quickly become a favorite among both the audience and the judges. The grand final will be broadcast live on Saturday at 18:00 GMT on BBC One and iPlayer. Initially, there were 15 couples in the competition, but now only four remain. The finalists are Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell, JB Gill and Lauren Oakley, Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola, and Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec. Each finalist will perform three routines in front of a live audience and the judges, after which the public will cast their votes to determine the winner. The final show will also feature special performances, including a collaboration between the professional dancers and singer Raye, as well as a reunion dance by the full cast of 2024. Chris McCausland has been training hard for the final, and he described the experience as both challenging and rewarding. He mentioned that the training has been relentless, but he has discovered a newfound resilience and determination within himself. Chris stated, 'It's been exhausting, and it's been the scariest thing I've ever done, but I think it's certainly been the most rewarding thing I've ever done. ' He believes that this experience will have a lasting impact on his outlook on life and the opportunities that lie ahead. In the grand final, Chris and Dianne will perform a waltz to 'You'll Never Walk Alone' by Gerry and the Pacemakers, as well as a couple's choice routine to 'Instant Karma' by John Lennon. During their previous performance, Chris created a powerful moment by covering Dianne's eyes, and when the lights came back on, he was spinning her around on his shoulders, which left the judges in awe. They received a score of 33 out of 40, with judge Craig Revel Horwood praising the 'poignant blackout moment' as 'absolutely spectacular'. Chris lost his sight due to a condition called retinitis pigmentosa in his 20s and 30s. He shared that his daughter was initially nervous about him participating in Strictly, fearing he might fall and embarrass himself. However, she has since become his biggest supporter, telling him, 'It doesn't matter, Daddy, if you go out because I think you've already won. ' After reaching the semi-finals, she changed her tune, saying, 'Daddy, I think you can win this thing! ' JB Gill has also made it to the final, but he faced a setback when his original dance partner, Amy Dowden, had to withdraw due to a foot injury. Amy expressed her heartbreak on Instagram, stating that she was devastated to leave the competition after recently finishing chemotherapy. Lauren Oakley stepped in to partner with JB, and they will perform a Show Dance to a Motown Medley and a Viennese Waltz to 'Let's Go Fly A Kite' from Mary Poppins. JB expressed his gratitude for having danced with Amy and praised Lauren as well, saying, 'It's an incredible feeling to make it here, to be alongside Lauren. ' Despite changing partners, JB has consistently scored highly and is currently at the top of the leaderboard. He acknowledged that every week presents new challenges and opportunities for growth. Vito Coppola and Sarah Hadland are also in the running for the glitterball trophy. Vito, who won the contest last year with a different partner, is eager to repeat his success with Sarah. Sarah, who is 53, has received praise throughout the series for her empowering messages about self-belief. In a video before one of her routines, she shared that she had received numerous messages from women her age who had given up on dancing. She confidently stated, 'Other people aren't telling me what I can and can't do. I am. ' On Saturday, they will perform a Cha Cha to 'Like A Prayer' by Madonna and an American Smooth to 'Proud' by Heather Small. Sarah reflected on her journey, realizing that she had been placing limits on herself and encouraging others not to do the same. Tasha Ghouri, a former Love Island star, is also entering the final with her partner Aljaž Škorjanec. They made history by being the first couple to achieve a perfect score of 40 this season. Tasha described her experience on Strictly as a dream come true, especially as she has been able to decorate her cochlear implant with sparkling gems to match her costumes. She has received an outpouring of support from young girls who feel represented by her presence on the show. Tasha expressed her passion for representation, stating, 'I feel like it's just been such a special year to be part of, and representation is so important to have. ' The grand final of Strictly Come Dancing promises to be an unforgettable event, and fans are eagerly anticipating who will take home the glitterball trophy.