Strictly Come Dancing enthusiasts were left ‘in tears’ after noticing a touching moment almost missed on screen following the announcement of the winners.
Comedian Chris McCausland and professional dancer Dianne Buswell clinched the coveted Glitterball trophy in the final of the BBC One dance competition, thanks to public votes, as the popular show marked its 20th anniversary this year.
After months of performances, Chris received accolades for his three routines which encompassed the couple’s favourite dance, their final show dance and the routine most appreciated by the judges – and despite ranking last on the final leaderboard, the duo triumphed.
Chris, who carved out a place in history as Strictly’s first blind winner, and Dianne outshone Miranda actress Sarah Hadland and partner Vito Coppola, Love Island star Tasha Ghouri and dancer Aljaz Skorjanec and JLS singer JB Gill and partner Lauren Oakley to be declared the 2024 champions.
Upon Tess Daly declaring them as this year’s victors of the BBC One dance competition, Chris described the win as “astonishing”. He shed tears and embraced his partner Dianne after the announcement, with both seeming overwhelmed, reports the Manchester Evening News.
The 47 year old expressed: “It’s astonishing. It’s you know. I don’t know what to say. I honestly thought I could go out in the first week or two and I know no-one went out in the first week but I still thought I could.”
Chris then expressed “anything can happen” with “support and determination” after his landmark victory as the first blind contestant on Strictly. He was full of praise for his partner, Dianne, adding: “She deserves this so much. She’s just honestly one of the easiest people to be funny with the other and unless she changes her number, she’s stuck with me.”
Yet amidst the celebrations, attention was also on Dianne’s parents, Mark and Rina, who had travelled from Australia a couple of weeks prior to spend Christmas with their daughter, hence getting to witness her dance live in the famed ballroom for the first time.
Social media user @BailzSmallwood shared: “I’m actually bawling over dianne’s parents getting to see her win for the first time, dianne the mother you are #strictly.”
Another, @thatsmypeachx, posted: “Chris and Dianne were trying to stay in long enough for her parents to fly over from Australia and watch her perform live, instead her parents got to watch them live for many weeks and they got to see their little girl win the glitterball trophy #Strictly #StrictlyFinal.”
Additional comments came in with @chloerichx noting: “Also, I love how Katya and Gorka went to get Dianne’s parents out of the audience #Strictly.”
Meanwhile, @lucy_tanton wrote about the emotional reaction: “Seeing Diannes parents balling their eyes out and going to hug anyone who they could because they were so proud and overcome with emotion got me in the feels #strictly.”
@scdkatdijowita posted: “I just noticed Katya and Gorka bringing on Dianne’s parents at the end in the final shot #Strictly.”
@strictlylmx chimed in with: “The fact that she’s waited this long for her parents to come over and watch her dance only for her to lift the glitterball with them, her boyfriend that she met on strictly and her future mother in law in the audience to see it all happen. incredible. #Strictly.”
Strictly Come Dancing is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.