Chris McCausland's life in pictures after his Strictly win: From his early days in comedy to his road to success on the dance show - and all of his TV appearances in between
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Chris McCausland has achieved national treasure status thanks to his incredible stint on Strictly Come Dancing with his pro partner Dianne Buswell. The blind comedian, 47, who lost his completely lost his sight age 22, made history as the first blind contestant on the BBC show during its 20th series.
![[After his sight loss prompted a change of job direction, Chris worked in sales for a number of years, during which time he first performed stand up in 2003 (pictured during his Seven Strikes show in 2009)]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/09/93186523-14196737-image-a-2_1734341006229.jpg)
Liverpool-native Chris began losing his vision in his late teens because of a genetic condition he was born with called retinitis pigmentosa. Chris previously said that when his sight began to deteriorate it was 'scary and embarrassing' and he was forced to abandon his original career path.
![[The blind comedian, 47, who lost his completely lost his sight age 22, made history as the first blind contestant on the BBC show during its 20th series]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/10/93188629-14196737-image-a-19_1734343232083.jpg)
He has said before: 'I found myself in difficult situations because I was reluctant to ask for help. I knew I would never be on a level playing field with everyone else. 'My eyesight deteriorated significantly while I was at university, and the technology available at that time wasn't advanced enough, so I had to abandon my career path in web development.'.
![[Liverpool-native Chris began losing his vision in his late teens because of a genetic condition he was born with called retinitis pigmentosa (pictured in 1997 age 20)]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/10/93189443-14196737-image-a-37_1734344577038.jpg)
Chris McCausland has achieved national treasure status thanks to his incredible stint on Strictly Come Dancing with his pro partner Dianne Buswell. After his sight loss prompted a change of job direction, Chris worked in sales for a number of years, during which time he first performed stand up in 2003 (pictured during his Seven Strikes show in 2009).
![[Born in West Derby Village, Liverpool, Chris started out as a web developer before moving onto sales as his eyesight deteriorated, during which time he started his career in stand-up (pictured during his early years as a stand-up in 2007)]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/09/93188715-14196737-image-a-5_1734343091327.jpg)
The blind comedian, 47, who lost his completely lost his sight age 22, made history as the first blind contestant on the BBC show during its 20th series. After his sight loss prompted a change of job direction, Chris worked in sales for a number of years, during which time he first performed stand up in 2003.
![[Born in West Derby Village, Liverpool, Chris started out as a web developer before moving onto sales as his eyesight deteriorated, during which time he started his career in stand-up (pictured in 2009)]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/09/93188709-14196737-image-a-6_1734343098855.jpg)
