What Will Strictly Come Dancing Winner Chris McCausland Do Next?

Chris McCausland made history several times over on this year's Strictly Come Dancing.

He was the first-ever blind contestant to take part in the Latin and ballroom show, and just hours before the finale he went off as the shortest-priced contestant on betting sites in the programme's history. 

If that wasn't enough, he then became the first-ever blind person to land the Glitterball Trophy - and there's a huge feeling in show business that this is just the start for what could become an even more glittering career for the comedian. 

However, one thing Chris isn't doing next is the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour, because it clashes with his own stand-up comedy tour dates. 

Speaking on ITV show Lorraine following his victory, he said: "I started the tour in January. I did the first leg until May and was meant to be back out again in September. We moved the dates to accommodate Strictly. 

"It just wasn't really a consideration at the time, I don't think anybody thought I'd be any good at it. I don't think they thought it, I don't think I thought it."

Chris has added an extra 100 dates to his Yonks comedy tour - but he thinks it'll be a "doddle" after the no-nonsense physical demands of Strictly. 

He added: "In terms of going out in January, I didn't think I'd be going on tour off the back of Strictly.

"I thought I'd be going off the back of two months off. It's a long tour, there's a lot of dates but it's going to be a doddle compared to Strictly."

But what else will Chris get up to? 

Chris To 'Breathe New Life' Into BBC Comedy

Some of his upcoming projects are already known. 

Chris is to star alongside fellow comedian Lee Mack over the festive period in Sky TV film Bad Tidings, which the Strictly winner also co-wrote, and he fronted chat show The Chris McCausland Show earlier this year. 

It is just 5/2 on betting apps that he lands a second series of his Saturday morning ITV chat show next, but the BBC might want him to "breathe new life" into their comedy sector instead. 

What Will Chris McCausland Do Next Odds

A TV insider told The Sun newspaper: "What he did by keeping everyone in fits during the course of Strictly was 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.

"That’s something which critics have said is lacking from many comedy series on the Beeb, and Chris could breathe new life into a genre which was once a mainstay for the corporation."

Aside from his upcoming Sky film, Chris is 10/11 favourite to appear in a BBC comedy show next, and it's just 3/1 he stars alongside his Strictly professional dance partner Dianne Buswell in a programme. 

A source added to the publication: "They are considering ways of him being reunited with pro partner Dianne as they had such a sensational chemistry together."

£5 Million Man 

Chris took part in Channel 4 reality TV show Scared of the Dark in 2023, and following his Strictly success he is likely to be inundated with further reality TV offers. 

Such shows can often pay good money for a couple of weeks' work, and some believe Chris could now pen deals worth up to as much as £5 million off the back of his Glitterball glory. 

PR expert Chad Teixeira told Metro: "This is just the start. With the exposure from Strictly, Chris could sign deals worth £2-5 million over the next few years if he plays his cards right.

"He’s got universal appeal and now, the audience to match." 

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Chris is just 2/1 to take part in the first-ever series of Celebrity Traitors, which has been billed as the "ultimate game of truth and deception". 

That seems far more likely than a Celebrity Big Brother stint (8/1), while Strictly bosses no doubt have him on the shortlist for a future appearance on spin-off show Strictly: It Takes Two, but could he present the programme? 

In the future perhaps, but he is 10/1 for now as Strictly chiefs appear to be happy with current presenter Janette Manrara.

Chris To Tell All 

Throughout his time on Strictly, Chris captured the hearts of the nation with his dancing ability and his comical quips, but the show's viewers were also taken in by his story. 

Chris wasn't born blind, but lost his sight completely by the age of 22. 

He suffers from hereditary eye disease retinitis pigmentosa, which makes cells in the retina break down slowly over time and causes vision loss.

It would be no surprise if he released an autobiography soon, detailing his early life as well his stand-up comedy career, and his time on Strictly. 

He is 4/1 to release a book next, and it's 5/1 he hosts a podcast. 

Another potential avenue for Chris would be to appear as a Loose Men panellist (9/2). 

The all-male spin-off of daytime show Loose Women has featured the likes of Strictly judge Anton Du Beke, TV presenter Vernon Kay, ex-EastEnders star Joe Swash, and JLS singer Marvin Humes since it first aired as a one-off special in November 2020.

* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.