Chris McCausland kicked off his Yonks! stand-up tour in Walsall on Friday night, missing the launch of the Strictly Come Dancing live tour in Birmingham, just 12 miles away. The comedian, 47, performed at the Walsall Arena while his Strictly partner Dianne Buswell joined fellow dancers at the Utilita Arena for the first live show.
McCausland, who made history in December as the first blind contestant to win Strictly, confirmed he would not take part in the tour due to scheduling conflicts. He explained on X: 'I'm afraid I will not be able to do the Strictly tour. My own tour was meant to be on the road in September and a lot of dates were moved to Jan and Feb to accommodate doing #Strictly. It's unfortunate as it's been so much fun, but my own dates can't be moved for a second time.'
His absence marks the first time a Strictly winner has not participated in the live tour. The Yonks! tour, which had been rescheduled from September, includes over 250 dates across the UK and Ireland, running into 2026.
McCausland has also landed a new role on Comedy Central Live, joining the series four lineup alongside comedians including Judi Love and Amy Gledhill. The four-episode series will air weekly in early 2025, with additional digital content.
Reports suggest the BBC is keen to retain McCausland, with a TV insider telling The Sun: 'What he did by keeping everyone in fits during the course of 'Strictly' was a show that he wasn't just funny, but proved he had a traditional sense of humour that can connect with the ordinary viewers at home.' Bosses are reportedly planning to reunite him with Dianne Buswell for future projects.
