The flashing sequins, Lurex and chiffon always put Christmas pantos in the shade, to say nothing of the glitterball prize. Yet in this, the 20th year of Strictly Come Dancing, it was the contestant who could see none of the bling who was to win in the end.
In what was officially “the highest scoring Strictly final ever”, according to the mistress of ceremonies, Claudia Winkleman, it was Chris McCausland, who lost his sight 25 years ago, who walked away the winner on Saturday night, accompanied by his professional dance partner, Dianne Buswell.
“I have learned that I am more capable than I thought I was,” said McCausland. “It has been full of so many joyful moments.”
“I think you will change people’s lives, my love,” declared Anton du Beke. Even that renowned grouch, Craig Revel Horwood, was moved to poetry, penning lines addressed to the eventual winner that concluded: “You are light that shines for all to see.”
Greeting McCausland after a waltz to the adopted Liverpudlian anthem, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s You’ll Never Walk Alone, Winkleman congratulated McCausland with the words: “Chris, you have officially broken Craig Revel Horwood and we are all grateful.”
Comedian McCausland, who has retinitis pigmentosa and who led the betting all the way down the final furlong, was crowned the king of the dancefloor in the show’s anniversary outing.
The 47-year-old was honoured for surpassing all expectations as he tackled complex routines with great wit and bravery through the series.
“This is a ridiculously great final,” said Du Beke after watching highly praised contender Sarah Hadland and her partner, Vito, dance their way through what the Miranda actor said she always called “the big fancy” when she watched finals as a “superfan”.
Another likely challenger, the TV presenter and former member of JLS, JB Gill, was praised for fighting his way back into the frame after finding himself at the bottom of the scoreboard early in the series.
Perhaps the most highly praised dancer, Tasha Ghouri, earned another set of perfect marks and was hailed by Du Beke as the best dancer who has ever appeared on the show.
In a moment of classic Strictly schmaltz, her dance partner, Aljaž Škorjanec, told Ghouri that while he had fallen in love with dancing at the age of five, dancing with her had made him fall for it all over again. Ghouri, a former Love Island contestant who has partial hearing, scored a string of perfect 10s across the series.
In their final twirls of the series, all four finalists sparkled as if it was going out of fashion, as it briefly was this summer, when the BBC’s entertainment gem teetered on the verge of cancellation amid accusations of abusive treatment of contestants.
McCausland was the show’s first blind contestant. He never dominated the leader board, but his superlative efforts won through in the public vote in a verdict popular with all on Saturday night.
Among the charities to praise McCausland as the first blind winner of the show was Sense.
Steven Morris, who is deaf and blind and the campaigns officer for the disability charity, said: “Chris’s historic Strictly Come Dancing win goes to show that given opportunities and support, disabled people can break down barriers many wrongly don’t think are possible.
“This is an important moment for representation. Disabled people make up nearly a quarter – 24% – of the population, but more than a third – 39% – say that their experiences are never or rarely seen in the media.
“Hopefully, Chris’s success will lead to many more disabled people being included in the biggest TV shows.”
Those viewers who now feel bereft can seek solace in an anniversary celebration of the show that will air on BBC One next Saturday.
