Chris McCausland
{{short description|British comedian (born 1977)}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox comedian
| name = Chris McCausland
| birth_name = Christopher John McCausland
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1977|6|15}}
| birth_place = Liverpool, England
| education = Kingston University (BSc)
| children = 1
| death_date =
| death_place =
| medium = {{Flatlist|
- Stand-up
- television}}
| genre =
| years_active = 2003–present
}}
Christopher John McCausland (born 15 June 1977) is an English actor and comedian. He is known to television audiences for his role as Rudi in the CBeebies show Me Too!. He regularly appears at comedy venues around the UK, including The Comedy Store. McCausland is blind due to retinitis pigmentosa.
In December 2024, McCausland won series 22 of BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, with professional dancer Dianne Buswell and followed by a BAFTA award in 2025.
Early life
Christopher John McCausland{{Cite web |title=Chris McCausland |url=https://watch.plex.tv/person/chris-mccausland |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619215622/https://watch.plex.tv/person/chris-mccausland |archive-date=2023-06-19 |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=Plex |language=en}} was born on 15 June 1977{{Cite tweet|number=1669444463410790405|user=chrismccausland|title=Cheers mate. Right back at ya!|first=Christopher John|last=McCausland|access-date=2023-06-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619215304/https://twitter.com/chrismccausland/status/1669444463410790405|archive-date=2023-06-19|url-status=live}}{{Cite tweet|number=1543153994994184193|user=chrismccausland|title=Today this 45-year-old bloke is as giddy as a teenager. First concert since before the pandemic. All the way from Hollywood… Gguns N' fucking Roses 🤣🤘🏻|first=Christopher John|last=McCausland|access-date=2023-06-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619215457/https://twitter.com/chrismccausland/status/1543153994994184193|archive-date=2023-06-19|url-status=live}} in West Derby Village in Liverpool{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2024/06/02/chris-mccausland-strictly-come-dancing-blind/|title=Why blind comedian Chris McCausland is an inspired choice for scandal-hit Strictly|first=Marianka|last=Swain|work=The Telegraph |date=2 June 2024|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}} and has lived in Surbiton, near Kingston upon Thames, since 1996, after moving there to study at Kingston University. He graduated in 2000, with a BSc Honours in Software Engineering. After a spell as a web developer, deteriorating eyesight prompted a change of direction and he worked in sales for a number of years, during which time he first performed stand-up comedy in 2003.{{cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/echo-meets-comedian-chris-mccausland-10709311|title=The ECHO meets the West Derby stand up who wouldn't let blindness ruin his comedy career|first=Kate|last=Samuelson|work=Liverpool Echo|date=9 January 2016|access-date = 12 January 2024}}
Stand-up comedy
McCausland first tried stand-up at a new act comedy night in a room above a pub in Balham in July 2003.{{Cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/live/fgwg/chris-mccausland/|title=Chris McCausland - First Gig, Worst Gig|first=British Comedy|last=Guide|date=23 July 2021|website=British Comedy Guide}} Within his first year of performing, he won the Jongleurs J2O Last Laugh competition, came runner up in the Laughing Horse New Act of The Year and came third in Channel 4's So You Think You're Funny? competition.
Between 2005 and 2012, he took six stand-up shows to the Edinburgh Festival and in 2011 was awarded the Creative Diversity Award for comedy by a Channel 4-led panel of broadcasters which also included BBC, ITV and Sky. He has performed all over the world, including across Asia and the Middle East, and regularly travels the UK playing the country's top comedy clubs. He appeared on the BBC's Live at the Apollo on 4 January 2018 and hosted the show on 7 January 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/live_at_the_apollo/episodes/16/1/|title = Live at the Apollo Series 16, Episode 1 - Chris McCausland, Sophie Duker, Emmanuel Sonubi|website=Comedy.co.uk}}
Television
In 2014, McCausland fronted a national television advert for Barclays, promoting the benefits of their new talking cash machines. Also in 2014, he starred in the Jimmy McGovern drama series Moving On, alongside Anna Crilly and Neil Fitzmaurice. In 2012, he appeared alongside fellow comedians in Jimmy Carr's Comedians Special charity episode of Celebrity Deal or No Deal.{{cn|date=December 2024}}
He appeared in three series of At The Comedy Store in 2008 for Paramount Comedy as well as in 2010 and 2012 for Comedy Central. In 2010, he featured in BBC One's end of year spoof news review, Unwrapped with Miranda Hart. In 2011, he appeared in ITV's series Stand-up Hero.
McCausland was also one of the principal characters in the CBeebies series Me Too!, playing Rudi the market trader. Filmed in 2006, it aired on CBeebies and internationally until April 2016. On 20 August 2018, he appeared in the long-running BBC soap opera EastEnders.
On 18 October 2019, he appeared on the BBC comedy panel show Would I Lie to You?.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0009fdw|title=BBC One - Would I Lie to You?, Series 13, Episode 1|website=Bbc.co.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-12-03}}
McCausland has established himself as a regular panellist on the BBC satirical news show, Have I Got News for You, making seven appearances since his November 2019 debut. His most recent appearance was in May 2025.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002ch00|title=BBC One - Have I Got News for You, Series 69, Episode 8|website=BBC}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/chris-mccausland-have-i-got-news-for-you-b2749258.html|title=Strictly winner Chris McCausland set to return to panel show role|date=12 May 2025|website=The Independent}}
In February 2020, he appeared on an episode of 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown on Channel 4. McCausland scored highly throughout the episode, playing by memory alone, and correctly guessed the difficult end of game "Countdown Conundrum" before the sighted panellists. During the show, presenter Jimmy Carr produced blindfolds for the other contestants and encouraged them to try playing without sight.{{cn|date=December 2024}}
On 15 January 2021, he appeared again on the BBC One show Would I Lie to You?{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TofVKT_OeNs|title=Would I Lie to You S14 E2. Stephen Hendry, Laura Whitmore, Chris McCausland, Maisie Adam|date=15 January 2021 |access-date=20 April 2023|via=YouTube}}
In July 2022, Channel 4 announced McCausland would present a four-part travelogue series, provisionally titled The Wonders of the World I Can't See. The series aired in June and July 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.channel4.com/press/news/new-four-part-travelogue-series-open-mike-productions-channel-4-starring-chris|title=New four-part travelogue series from Open Mike Productions for Channel 4 starring Chris McCausland|website=Channel4.com|date=8 July 2022|access-date=12 July 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2022/07/08/51112/chris_mccausland_lands_c4_travel_show|title=The Wonders of the World I Can't See|work=Chortle|date=8 July 2022|access-date=29 July 2022}}
In April 2023, he was a contestant in the reality television series Scared of the Dark.{{Cite news |last=Henry |first=Grace |date=14 April 2023 |title=Scared of the Dark's Chris McCausland on experiencing show with blindness |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/reality-tv/scared-of-the-dark-chris-mccausland-blindness-newsupdate/ |access-date=12 January 2024 |work=Radio Times}} In December 2023, he was a contestant on Richard Osman's House of Games.{{Cite web |title=BBC Two - Richard Osman's House of Games, Series 7, Week 11: Monday |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001t5nw |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}
In March 2024, he featured in series 13, episode 5 of Not Going Out, "Train".{{Cite web |title=BBC One - Not Going Out, Series 13, Train |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0fvl1gb |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}} On 29 June 2024, his Saturday morning chatshow The Chris McCausland Show premiered on ITV1.{{cite web|url=https://chrismccausland.com/news/|title=ITV Show for Chris McCausland coming very soon!|website=chrismccausland.com/news|accessdate=29 June 2024}}
From September 2024 McCausland competed in the twenty-second series of BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, where he was partnered by professional dancer Dianne Buswell.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/strictly-come-dancing|title=Strictly Come Dancing|website=The Independent}} He is the first blind contestant to appear on the show.{{cite web |title=Strictly Come Dancing 2024: Chris McCausland and JB Gill announced as first two celebrity contestants |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c39kklz2nzxo |website=BBC News |access-date=5 August 2024 |language=en-gb |date=5 August 2024}} In week 3 the couple danced a jive to the "Wayne's World Theme" and scored 30 points; in week 4 they danced a salsa to "Down Under" and again scored 30 points; and in week 5 they danced a waltz to "You'll Never Walk Alone" and scored 35 points. The couple became the 100th Strictly couple to perform in Blackpool. In the semi-finals they danced a Charleston and a Viennese Waltz, the latter of which scored 36 points. They were ultimately announced as the series winners.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn8g4d8yxlzo|title=Strictly winners crowned after glitzy live final|work=BBC News|first=Noor|last=Nanji|date=14 December 2024|accessdate=14 December 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/strictly-come-dancing-final-time-chris-mccausland-b2664380.html|title=Strictly final live: Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell win Glitterball Trophy in tear-jerking finale|work=The Independent|first1=Ellie|last1=Muir|first2=Rachel|last2=McGrath|date=14 December 2024|accessdate=14 December 2024}}
In May 2025, the couple's waltz - which featured a passage of McCausland walking unaided and unsighted - won the British Academy Television Award for Memorable Moment at the 2025 British Academy Television Awards.{{cite web |title=Winners Announced: 2025 BAFTA TV Awards with P&O Cruises |url=https://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/winners-2025-tv-awards |website=BAFTA |access-date=24 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250511221148/https://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/winners-2025-tv-awards |archive-date=11 May 2025 |date=11 May 2025}}{{cite web |title=Bafta TV awards 2025: the full list of winners |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/may/11/bafta-tv-awards-2025-the-full-list-of-winners-live |website=The Guardian |access-date=24 May 2025 |date=11 May 2025}}
He appeared as a panelist on The Big Fat Quiz of the Year in 2024, paired with Maisie Adam.{{cite web |title=The Big Fat Quiz Of The Year: The Big Fat Quiz Of The Year 2024 |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/big_fat_quiz_of_the_year/episodes/1/29/ |website=British Comedy Guide |access-date=29 December 2024 |language=en}} Some viewers complained that the quiz featured many visual elements, with little effort made to account for his visual impairment.{{cite news |last1=Seddon |first1=Dan |title=Big Fat Quiz of the Year draws criticism from Chris McCausland fans |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/big-fat-quiz-of-the-year-chris-mccausland-criticism-100613115.html |access-date=29 December 2024 |work=Yahoo News |date=28 December 2024}}
On 23 December 2024 it was announced that McCausland would deliver the annual Channel 4 Alternative Christmas message, on Christmas Day, in which he would appeal for an end to discrimination against disabled people.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/dec/23/chris-mccausland-channel-4-alternative-christmas-message |work=The Guardian |title=Chris McCausland to deliver Channel 4's alternative Christmas message |first=Lanre |last=Bakare |date=23 December 2024 |access-date=23 December 2024}}
=Film=
Radio
McCausland was a guest on BBC Radio 4's The Museum of Curiosity in February 2023.{{cite web |title=The Museum of Curiosity - Series 17 - Episode 1 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001jc23 |website=Bbc.co.uk |access-date=4 March 2023}} His hypothetical donation to this imaginary museum was "a vinyl record".
Since March 2023, he has hosted a Radio 4 panel game about sound clips, called You Heard It Here First.{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001kh6w | title=BBC Radio 4 - You Heard It Here First, Series 1, Episode 1 }}
In April 2024, he featured on BBC Radio 4’s Room 101.
In January 2025, McCausland and his Strictly partner Buswell began a new podcast, called Winning Isn't Everything.{{cite web |url= https://open.spotify.com/show/0ydH6gpr9077ksk6QGnw32 | title= Winning Isn't Everything with Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell | website= Spotify }}
Personal life
McCausland lives with his wife and daughter.
His blindness is due to retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic condition that has affected both his mother and grandmother. McCausland had complete loss of sight by the age of 22.{{Cite news |last=Duerden |first=Nick |date=16 June 2023 |title=Chris McCausland: 'A miracle to cure my blindness completely? I'd consider that' |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/comedy/chris-mccausland-miracle-cure-blindness-2417677?srsltid=AfmBOorsUIvIJwOi5rfyv8585oiyUAlvmJ5HCe0jtbJLHktzEY1a8eK5 |work=The i paper}}
He is a supporter of Liverpool F.C.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/videos/cm2j7r17n9do|title=Chris McCausland on love for Liverpool before Manchester City match|date=23 February 2025|website=BBC Sport}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
- {{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/disability-61924545|title=How does blind comedian Chris McCausland play the HIGNFY picture round?|work=BBC News|last=Rose|first=Beth|date=24 June 2022|access-date= 11 January 2024}}
- {{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2022/jun/20/chris-mccausland-speaky-blinder-review-tour-leicester-square-theatre|title=Chris McCausland: Speaky Blinder review – genial gags for midlife grumps everywhere|work=The Guardian|last=Logan|first=Brian|date=20 June 2022|access-date= 11 January 2024}}
External links
- [http://www.chrismccausland.com/ Personal website]
- [http://www.chortle.co.uk/comics/c/119/chris_mccausland/ Chortle review]
- [http://www.ents24.com/web/artist/69296/Chris_McCausland.html/ Tour dates on Ents24]
- {{IMDb name|3415067}}
{{Strictly Come Dancing}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCausland, Chris}}
Category:20th-century English comedians
Category:20th-century English male actors
Category:21st-century English comedians
Category:21st-century English male actors
Category:Alumni of Kingston University
Category:BAFTA winners (people)
Category:English actors with disabilities
Category:Comedians from Liverpool
Category:English male comedians
Category:English male television actors
Category:Male actors from Liverpool