麻豆社

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17th December 2024

bbc.co.uk/accessall

Access All 鈥� episode 138

Presented by Emma Tracey

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CLAUDIA-听听听听听听听听听 Chris and Dianne! [Cheers and applause]

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Opportunity, support and just determination, just anything can happen.

MUSIC-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Theme music.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Hello, this is Access All and I鈥檓 Emma Tracey. So, this happened:

[Clip]

TESS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 We can reveal that the winners of Strictly Come Dancing 2024 are [applause] Chris and Dianne!

DESCRIPTOR-听听听 Fireworks erupt on the stage and confetti rains down as the couple hug each other and hold one another tight. Friends and family in the audience look ecstatic. The judges are giving them a standing ovation.

TESS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Congratulations, congratulations!

[End of clip]

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 What it didn鈥檛 say there was Chris and Dianne sob into each other鈥檚 shoulders.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 There was a lot of sobbing.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Oh, as soon as they announced our names Dianne just kind of crumpled into tears on me, and then that set me off. And thankfully all of the other guys came in for a big group hug, otherwise we might鈥檝e been just stood there for half an hour [laughter].

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 The last thing you said just after winning Strictly with Dianne Buswell was, 鈥業t just goes to show that with opportunity, support and determination anything can happen鈥� and I just think that is such a good line, and we鈥檙e going to come back to that in a minute. And stuff is happening for Chris McCausland: he stars with Lee Mack in a film Bad Tidings, which is on Sky over Christmas, and he has a massive tour of his show Yonks! in the New Year, 250 dates I think there are so far.

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Hi Chris, how are you?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 How you doing, Em?

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And is it all right if we start with Strictly? I know you鈥檝e got loads to talk about, but.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 It鈥檇 be silly not to, wouldn鈥檛 it?

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 It would [laughs].

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 It鈥檚 consumed my life for the last three and a half months [laughter].

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 What鈥檚 life been like since winning the glitterball? What鈥檚 been happening for you since?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I mean, first of all it was emotional, the whole last week was emotional for me. I was physically and mentally exhausted, and it didn鈥檛 take much to set me off to be honest. I had a cry on the semi-final when we did the Viennese waltz to Metallica and I couldn鈥檛 turn the tap back off. And then on Saturday it was really quite emotional. I woke up on Sunday in the hotel in Elstree and I remember a lady who I didn鈥檛 know in the hotel came up to me and she said that she was so proud of me, and I burst out crying [laughs].

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Oh Chris.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 So, can we talk about that a little bit, just like one blind person to another? So, you went on Graham Norton, which I thought was very funny, really recently. I was so excited, I was just sitting there on my Friday night and there you popped up.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Just hanging out with Nicole Kidman, as you do [laughs].

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Hanging out with Nicole Kidman, which was fantastic. You made a joke, you said that your Brazilian wife was a cauldron of emotion but yours were buried under a car park somewhere.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And I just wondered if the Strictly people just went straight out and found the car park and dug them up and stuck them in your coffee, because literally you haven鈥檛 stopped crying since I would say.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 It鈥檚 a hell of a ride and it takes it out of you, you know, in a lot of ways. Even on that day with the finals we did an 11-hour solid day before we even went live. So, you鈥檙e going into these shows really quite depleted in a lot of ways, you鈥檙e running on adrenaline. I never expected it to be emotional. I鈥檇 never seen the show, never bothered with it. The first time I heard the theme tune was in the studio.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 That鈥檚 amazing.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Well, do you know what, because I鈥檇 never danced and people said to me, go and get some dance lessons and I was like, no because I鈥檝e never danced. That鈥檚 what my story is going into this: I鈥檝e never danced, I鈥檝e never watched the show for obvious reasons and鈥�

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Obvious reasons? I sort of watch it sometimes now because it鈥檚 got audio description and stuff like that.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah, but I didn鈥檛 know it had audio description at the time.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Okay, so you didn鈥檛.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 No.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And it鈥檚 also not your bag, wasn鈥檛 your bag.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 No. I thought, well I鈥檓 not going to go back and watch how the shows work because I think it鈥檚 better and probably funnier for me to go into it and figure it out as we鈥檙e going along. The first few episodes I was saying to Dianne, she鈥檒l tell you, I was saying as we were going along, 鈥榃hat鈥檚 happening now, Di?鈥� [Laughter]. And really just figuring out who was who and what was happening as we went along. I didn鈥檛 expect it to be emotional. I didn鈥檛 expect dancing to be able to move people and connect with people in that way. It really did touch people. The overwhelming support that we got throughout this series in terms of the messages we got and how people said that it made them cry and it made them really believe in themselves, it was just so much more than I ever thought was there.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And was that just everybody or was it disabled people, blind people, people who had struggles or it was just everyone messaging you just saying the same thing?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 It was a far wider demographic than I thought it would have been. It was people who had had eating disorders, or people who have got a child that鈥檚 maybe got an obstacle to overcome, and they鈥檝e found that it鈥檚 changed their outlook on their child鈥檚 future. And then just people who, as far as they know, have got nothing wrong with them 鈥� we鈥檝e all got something wrong with us in some way.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah [laughs].

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 But everybody has got self-doubt; everybody has got restrictions we place on our potential because we don鈥檛 believe; everyone feels like an imposter at times.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And we just got so many messages that people said that what we were doing was just changing their outlook on themselves and on other people. It felt so wonderful. I never expected it to reach people like this. I expected to go on there and at the very best get to show 5 and show that blind people can do more than what we might think, and show 5 would have been a success. But it鈥檚 just phenomenal how it鈥檚 gone on from there really.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I mean, you were dancing and it was connecting with people, which means that you had to be doing things that looked beautiful and felt nice to you. And I think sometimes as blind people our bodies become something that鈥檚 moved around and guided, and we鈥檙e hunched up and tensed for impact.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 You know, like you never know when there鈥檚 going to be a step or a tree or someone鈥檚 going to come up and touch you.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Uh-huh.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I feel like part of the emotions for me watching you was I feel like maybe you realised that you could be artistic with your body and move in ways you didn鈥檛 know you could move. I think that鈥檚 kind of specific-ish to not being able to see because you鈥檙e not seeing other people鈥檚 bodies moving, you for a long time.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Am I talking rubbish or?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 No. And, like, I wasn鈥檛 watching anybody else dance, so every time we got to a new dance we had to start on Monday from zero and I had to find the way that it felt right for the music, you know.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And every Monday Dianne started from zero in telling me what the dance was, explaining it to me, and me finding how I moved to that rhythm really. The first thing I said to Dianne when we got paired together is, 鈥業 don鈥檛 want to dumb this down, if I鈥檓 here we need to be doing the same as everybody else, if not more really, because you need to overachieve sometimes to achieve the same goals鈥�. And she didn鈥檛. She made everything challenging, she made everything visually impressive. The lifts, people say oh, I鈥檓 brave for putting myself into it, and it was the most scary thing I鈥檝e ever done. But she was literally letting me twirl her around above my head and fling her around.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 So, she trusted you?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Oh, 100% we had to trust each other.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 That鈥檚 something, I always explain this to people, that鈥檚 something blind people have to do so much.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Uh-huh. And I had to trust Dianne to make this something that would have an impact, you know; to not be scared or to worry about what was possible and dumb it down. We could have done things that people might have just found, ah bless.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Well, it鈥檚 lucky you didn鈥檛 have Anton du Beck as your partner then, isn鈥檛 it? Because on the last show he was, like, 鈥業 would have just put you in hold and kept you there. I would have just held on to you because I was afraid鈥�.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Because people are so scared we鈥檙e going to fall, oh my god, or that we鈥檙e going to walk into something. I mean, what is the actual worst that can happen? But people are really, really anxious, really anxious.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah. Well on live TV the worst that could happen was quite bad, to be honest.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 [Laughs]

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I was terrified, one wrong angle spinning around the floor and you could hit a lighting rig or a camera, so I was鈥� And this is the thing as well, you鈥檙e moving at such a pace, and it鈥檚 really fast, and you鈥檙e changing angles at such a pace. As the male my job is to lead in a lot of the dances, and we really had to get these angles right because Dianne wasn鈥檛 always able to, for example 鈥� because I鈥檝e got a lot more body mass than her and when you鈥檙e moving the momentum is quite a lot 鈥� she can鈥檛 just suddenly turn me into a different direction.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah. So, did she have little taps that she did? Like, how? If you spin me around a couple of times in the office it takes me a minute to figure out where I am.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 No, there was no tap like that.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 How did you know? How did you do it?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 For example, when we did a spin and I had her in the air and I鈥檇 spinning on the floor and I鈥檇 put her down, I鈥檇 put her down on a certain count. So, for example the song was a one to eight count, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight鈥�one, two, three, and I鈥檇 go, 鈥極kay, so I鈥檓 going to get you down on the two, yeah?鈥� And then we would set off on the next move on the six, so that would give, like, a three, four, five. And we just carried on rotating on the floor as I put her down, and when she stopped I would stop.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Oh, so it鈥檚 all about timing.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 It鈥檚 all about timing.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Massively, massively down to you being really musical and knowing the songs inside out?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Absolutely, and just reading her body language.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah, which is hard when you can鈥檛 see someone, [laughs] it genuinely is. You have to feel where she is and what she鈥檚 doing.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 But the amazing thing is that nobody would know that I was reading her body. To everyone watching it I鈥檝e been told that it looks like magic because I鈥檓 doing these visual things. But we put the hours in and we really, really worked on the angles and the pace and the size of the strides. And we did it to the standard. There was no week 鈥� this is what I鈥檓 really proud of 鈥� there was no week on Strictly that we stayed in above somebody that scored higher than us. Every single week the person that went out was lower on the scoreboard than we were.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Right, Chris, we鈥檝e got a message from Zara:

ZARA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Hi, I鈥檓 Zara, I鈥檓 an 11 year-old visually impaired gymnast, and I do a lot of dancing on beam and floors. And what are your tips for balancing and confidence and stuff like that?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Ooh, I mean, my tips for balancing and confidence. I mean, what I realised doing Strictly is how important your core muscle system is in terms of, when you want to do exercise we find all of the core stuff boring, don鈥檛 we, working on the muscles that no one can see we see it as a little bit of a waste of time. But when you are balancing to have that strength that runs through your abdomen is necessary really. That鈥檚 what I felt really improved with me a lot throughout the series is that ability to control my balance just through my core. But in terms of confidence just be prepared to not take yourself too seriously in terms of if you make a mistake. I made mistakes; all of the dancers made mistakes; all of the contestants made mistakes. But if you make a mistake, the most dangerous thing about a mistake is it leads to further mistakes because your confidence goes and you panic and you worry. But you鈥檝e just got to smile and you鈥檝e just got to go, well it happens, it happens to everybody, it鈥檚 not because I can鈥檛 see, everybody makes mistakes. And just reset your mind and just go again. Not every mistake we make is because of our eyesight, because all of the other guys could see and they were making mistakes all over the place.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Exactly. We鈥檝e got a message from Anna:

ANNA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Hi, Chris, this is Anna. I also have retinitis pigmentosa, but I have a little bit of central vision. And I鈥檝e noticed that doing dancing has actually helped to change the way I literally carry myself in the world and the way I stand. And I鈥檓 very curious to hear your thoughts about how this experience has affected the way you move through the world?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 The way I move through the world at the minute is with aches and pains because I haven鈥檛 fully recovered [laughs] from Strictly.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Well, you know what she means though?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah, I do, yeah, yeah. It鈥檚 changed the way I think about posture, because I never thought about posture. Posture was just something that was an unconscious part of the way I carried myself, and it was something that was just subconsciously learned over many years of leaning forward to see computers when I was losing my eyesight and see the TV and walking down streets worried that you were going to get a branch in the head and things like that. So, it鈥檚 just something that was there and wasn鈥檛 very good but I never thought of. And now I鈥檓 aware of it and I鈥檓 aware of how carrying yourself differently, if it can make that difference to a dance, if it can make that amount of difference to a form of entertainment and make you feel better about the dance that you鈥檙e doing, it can make you feel better about yourself as well and it can make you feel more confident.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Chris, we鈥檝e got a message from Dave:

DAVE-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Chris, really, really chuffed for you my man. Fantastic. Many congratulations. You and I went to school together and we had many of the same teachers and you talked a lot on Strictly about what an incredible teacher Dianne was. What do you think are the ingredients that make a great teacher, particularly for somebody who is blind?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Wow, David Williams [laughter] from RNIB Ted Talk.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Ha, do you listen?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And previously St Vincent鈥檚.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Is that where you went to school together?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 He was in the same class as me. He鈥檚 a lovely guy.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 He is.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 What makes a good teacher? Well, someone who鈥檚 a good communicator, you know, because words and description are more important to us than people who can see visuals really. I couldn鈥檛 learn visually so basically Dianne鈥檚 ability to describe the dances to me was very important. But I think the main thing is that she had high expectations of me, that she believed that more was possible out of me than not only what other people would have thought but than what I thought, you know. And that鈥檚 why we were able to wow people, and that鈥檚 why I think what did was able to connect with people and really move people because she was able to get that out of me, and I didn鈥檛 even know it was in there myself.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 But you must have had a pep talk because she said she was a bit afraid of you walking down the stairs even at the beginning.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 She was, yeah.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 So, how did that change? What was the turning point then?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Well, I suppose just maybe that first dance that we did, and she saw how I took to learning what she was teaching me. Between the two of us we were able to challenge people鈥檚 preconceptions and surprise people and show them that more was possible, and represent in a really positive way. I believe they were even talking about that in parliament on Wednesday and about how what we鈥檇 been able to do on Strictly in that regard should be used as a platform to really improve opportunities for disabled people and people who are blind and partially sighted, and create more opportunities for employment.

[Clip]听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听

SPEAKER-听听听听听听听听听 Liberal Democrat spokesperson, Steve Darling.

STEVE-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Thank you Mr Speaker. And I hope the Secretary of State will join me in congratulating Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell [cries of hear, hear!] in their victory in Strictly this weekend. And in light of this how do you plan to make the Access to Work scheme more fit for purpose to help more people with disabilities fulfil their full potential? [Hear hear!]

YVETTE-听听听听听听听听听听听 I do absolutely join with the honourable gentleman in his comments. It was a great joy indeed to see that at the weekend. We do want to see Access to Work working better. We want to get those backlogs down; we want that support to be available to more people.

[End of clip]

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 To know that what we鈥檝e done has filtered through to people who can make a difference on a grander scale, you know. Sometimes they鈥檙e all talk, aren鈥檛 they, so we鈥檒l see what happens, so it鈥檚 nice to鈥�

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Well, they鈥檙e very keen to get more people into work, Chris, so.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah, and what they need to realise is that the funding that they need to put into resourcing Access to Work and Workplace Support gets paid back in tax, doesn鈥檛 it? It washes its own face. Come on guys, sort it out!

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 It is. There are figures to say that it actually really, really pays for itself to fund the support properly.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Oh, it probably saves a lot of money on mental health support and everything.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And benefits.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Benefits, it makes so much sense. It鈥檚 nice to know that what we鈥檝e done has at least inspired a conversation at that level.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Let鈥檚 go back to your last line on Strictly. I鈥檝e seen it shortened to, 鈥榃ith determination anything can happen鈥� I鈥檝e seen that on social media since. But you didn鈥檛 say that, you didn鈥檛 say that, you said, 鈥榃ith opportunity, support and determination anything can happen鈥�. What did you mean?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Just remove disability out of the equation. Opportunity is something that everybody needs. There are a lot of underrepresented groups in all forms of life, entertainment, TV, workplace. I would not be on the telly now if I hadn鈥檛 have been given an opportunity. You can鈥檛 prove yourself without opportunity; everybody needs it. I think disabled people are often not given enough opportunities because expectations are too low really from people who have not got exposure to those with disabilities. How many times have you walked out of a building and walked down steps and the taxi driver鈥檚 been like, 鈥極oh how did you do the steps?鈥� Because I live here and my legs work.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Well, this is the thing, steps and blind people, why do people think that we can鈥檛 do steps?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah. How do you cut a sandwich? How do you use a phone? I remember years and years ago somebody asked me how I knew where my mouth was when I was eating.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 [Laughs]

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Everybody needs opportunity. I was given this opportunity, and we also need support, we need adjustments sometimes. And these adjustments can be small, they can be big, they can be almost unnoticeable. I do Have I Got News for You, and I fit into that format as much as I feel I can possibly, because I don鈥檛 want that format to change. But I need some small adjustments made: instead of a spinning picture round we do an audio round. It adds to the programme.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 So, adjustments don鈥檛 always have to detract, support doesn鈥檛 always have to detract; it can add to the overall output.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And things don鈥檛 always have to be done as they鈥檝e always been done.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah. And as disabled people you can鈥檛 go through life expecting opportunity and support and everybody to do it for you. You have to work twice as hard as everybody else, and you have to be resilient and you have to be determined.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 It鈥檚 exhausting, isn鈥檛 it?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 It is yeah, but it鈥檚 what you鈥檝e got to do. When you start seeing the results of your determination it鈥檚 like going to the gym, when you see the weight coming off it inspires you more, doesn鈥檛 it. And so I think those three things they go hand in hand really. You鈥檝e got to put the hours in and the effort in but...

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 But you need the other two as well.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥�you need the other two as well, yeah. And you shouldn鈥檛 be ashamed of needing the other two because everybody needs opportunity. You shouldn鈥檛 be ashamed to need support or adjustments.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Was it a journey for you to not be ashamed to ask for them?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 It was a journey for me to not be ashamed of being blind, yeah. Losing my sight in my 20s, I鈥檇 gradually lost my sight, and just denial, shame, you don鈥檛 want to be labelled, you don鈥檛 want to use a white stick. I was very self-conscious. I feel proud to be me. I felt ashamed and embarrassed to be a blind person, and I wish I could go back and fix that. There are people who are born blind who grow up not knowing any different, and just different animals to us that lose sight.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 There can still be shame though, it鈥檚 internalised ableism, do you know?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah, especially when you鈥檙e losing your sight and you鈥檙e relying on sight that isn鈥檛 enough. It gets you into more trouble when you deny being blind than when you accept it. You hear this argument or this discussion a lot about is it better to be blind than have a little bit of sight, do you wish that little bit of sight away. I don鈥檛 think anybody does because it鈥檚 a difficult journey, but I certainly found it easier when I couldn鈥檛 see anything than when I could see a bit. And that鈥檚 when I was really able to end up, just give me something to get used to, and then you can be comfortable in your own skin.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I feel like that鈥檚 part of why it was so emotional as well, was you鈥檝e gone past all of this stuff and then because you were blind and doing what you were doing, for me watching Strictly that was what鈥�

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I didn鈥檛 do Strictly to inspire blind people.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Oh, fair enough.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I didn鈥檛 do Strictly to be a role model. As I said, I think there鈥檚 a lot of blind and disabled people out there that are gagging for an opportunity and do not need inspiring to make the most of that opportunity when they get it. But I did it to educate and expose everybody else to the fact that more is possible.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah. Let鈥檚 talk about Bad Tidings, right.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Oh yeah.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 So, what鈥檚 Bad Tidings about? It鈥檚 your film at Christmas on Sky.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 It is, it鈥檚 a Christmas film. I mean, Bad Tidings but good timings.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 [Laughs]

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 This is the best timing I鈥檝e ever had in my life about anything, you know. I finished Strictly on the Saturday and then the following Sunday I鈥檝e got a film out. We made this earlier in the year, and it鈥檚 me and Lee Mack and we play neighbours that don鈥檛 get on. Everybody sees me as an angel on the street but I poke him with a stick. Everyone thinks he鈥檚 paranoid but really I鈥檓 winding him up. And basically we end up blowing the power for the whole street on Christmas Eve and hilarity ensues:

[Clip]

SCOTT-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Hello?

NEIL-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 It鈥檚 about the lights.

SCOTT-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I will have them taken down first thing. You have my word. [Gasps] Neil told me to take my lights down!

NEIL-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 What?!

[End of clip]

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 You鈥檝e seen it, haven鈥檛 you?

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I鈥檝e seen it. It鈥檚 all very caper-y, running about.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 A lot of action and a lot of stunts, and we pretty much did all the stunts ourselves as well.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And did you have to fight for any of that or were you just like, I鈥檓 doing it?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 No, there鈥檚 a scene where I鈥檓 on a roof and I fall off a roof, on the top of a house, and I slide right down the roof. And I said to them, I said to Sky, 鈥榊ou鈥檝e got two choices here: you either harness me to the top of a house or you build me a roof鈥�. And they went, 鈥楿h, I think we鈥檒l build the roof鈥�. Because I wanted people to see my face when we were doing it. I didn鈥檛 want people to watch it and just kind of think it was a stunt double, because part of this for me is there aren鈥檛 enough disabled people on roles on TV, in dramas and in scripted comedy and so on, and it was about showing that more is possible from an actor that you might not think is possible.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And you also had a hand in writing it. And I was very interested, I want to know what bits you put in? Because I never felt more seen than the bit where you鈥檙e on the phone to your daughter and she鈥檚 reading out what鈥檚 on the tins, because that happens to me, I do that all the time.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah. So, that scene is me on FaceTime with my daughter and I鈥檓 holding up tins and she鈥檚 telling me what鈥檚 on them. And it鈥檚 about showing people that I鈥檓 blind without just explaining it, and in just a way that we鈥檝e all done in the past, getting help from people over FaceTime. Subconsciously it sends out a lot of positivity in terms of that level of exposure really to people who don鈥檛 know somebody who鈥檚 blind or disabled.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Sure. And it鈥檚 just fun as well.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah, it鈥檚 daft, it鈥檚 slapstick. I mean, there鈥檚 a scene in it where we take down one of the burglars and me and Lee join forces at the side of the house and he says, 鈥業s there anything we can鈥檛 do? High five!鈥� and I smack him in the face.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 [Laughs]

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 But the only way that we could do that was for me to smack Lee in the face.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 To actually do it in real life, yeah.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah, we did it, like, six times. And the director was going, 鈥楲ee, how many times you鈥檝e got in you?鈥� 鈥業 reckon I can do two more鈥�. [Laughter]

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And that brings me on to your new standup show, massive, my god, 250 dates, is that it at the moment? Yonks!

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah, that鈥檚 how long it鈥檚 going on for, yonks.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 [Laughs] What is it about? What can we expect from it?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 So, it鈥檚 a standup show that鈥檚 just about everything and nothing.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Are you going to do some rewrites now that you鈥檝e won Strictly, and put some of Strictly in it?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I鈥檒l stick a little bit in. It鈥檇 be silly not to mention it, wouldn鈥檛 it? [Laughs]

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Are you going to dance?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 No, no.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 You鈥檙e not doing the dancing, the Strictly Live Show either. I was like, I can totally see why he鈥檚 not doing that.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 No, I鈥檓 not. The thing is I鈥檓 not doing it because I can鈥檛.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 But would you do it if you could?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Would you?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I would have done, yeah.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Oh god, stressful though!

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 No, but it鈥檚 been fun and I鈥檇 love to spend more time doing it with Dianne in a less stressful environment really. I think that鈥檚 a much less stressful environment than doing it on live TV. But my tour dates were moved to January and February to accommodate doing Strictly and without the tour being on the radar.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Because you didn鈥檛 think you were going to be鈥�?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 No, nobody really made it out to be a thing that needed considering. But I think my success in Strictly has surprised everybody, you know.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 It certainly surprised me.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 So, are you going to keep dancing then, Chris?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Well, I鈥檓 going to go out on tour, and never say never because, you know. People say, oh you can dance now. I can鈥檛 dance now. I can dance with Dianne now. We鈥檝e learnt how to dance together, and if Dianne wants to take me for a spin at some point later in the year I would love that. Because the ballroom dancing it feels beautiful to do and it feels way more than I ever thought it would do. I thought it would just be learning steps and doing it, but you do feel olde world doing it and it鈥檚 lovely. So, yeah I鈥檇 love to have a go again.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And the papers are saying you鈥檙e going to be making millions by this time next year and you can do whatever job you want.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Oh, the papers say a lot, don鈥檛 they?

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And you鈥檙e going to be fronting the biggest 麻豆社 shows etc etc.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 [Laughs]

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 What do you want to do next?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I mean, if the 麻豆社 want to give me a show I鈥檒l happily consider the option [laughs]. I did a chat show earlier this year, I did that at breakfast time, and I loved doing it, I loved having guests on and being able to interview, like, Paul Whitehouse and Ben Elton.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Oh, we had Paul Whitehouse.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Lovely man.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 He was the first person I interviewed.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 So, you would take on something like that?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I would love to do something like that again, at a better time than half past 8 in the morning [laughter].

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah. And acting, would you like to do more acting?

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah, definitely. Hopefully the film鈥檚 a little bit of a calling card, but hopefully if people like it you never know, me and Lee might be back for another one. Although after three weeks of doing night shoots in Romford I think we鈥檝e decided we鈥檒l do a road trip to Miami for the sequel.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 [Laughs] Well, Chris, we鈥檒l be watching Bad Tidings and we鈥檒l be looking forward to your tour, Yonks! And thank you so much for coming in and indulging me by answering all of my blindy specific questions about Strictly. It鈥檚 been a joy.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Lovely. Cheers, Em.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 If you want to get in touch with me and Access All with thoughts on this interview or anything else you can email accessall@bbc.co.uk. You can send us a voice message, like all of those people did for Chris McCausland, you can send it to 0330 123 9480. Our email address is accessall@bbc.co.uk, and we are on X and Instagram @麻豆社AccessAll. See you next time. Bye.

[Trailer for Newscast]

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 You know when you鈥檙e worried about something, but then you talk to your friend who knows more about the subject than you do, and straightaway you start to feel better? That鈥檚 what we try and do every day on Newscast.

MALE-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Now, they鈥檙e saying that that would be simple to do, it would give everyone certainty.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 We talk to people who are in the news:

FEMALE-听听听听听听听听听听听 You were chasing me round with a plate of cheese.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 We talk to people who know what鈥檚 going on in the news:

MALE-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 At least I didn鈥檛 get up and slap anybody.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 We talk to people who understand what the news means:

MALE-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I think that he鈥檚 decided he鈥檚 going to listen, and then he might just intervene.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And we talk to the best 麻豆社 journalists, asking the most important questions:

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 What鈥檚 wrong with chinos? You don鈥檛 want them, people to start wearing chinos?

FEMALE-听听听听听听听听听听听 Don鈥檛 start me, Chris.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 That鈥檚 Newscast from 麻豆社 News, the podcast that knows a lot of people who know a lot about the news.

FEMALE-听听听听听听听听听听听 And I was like, go on Kate, put some more welly into it!

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Listen to Newscast every weekday on 麻豆社 Sounds.

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I鈥檓 glad I asked that.

FEMALE-听听听听听听听听听听听 I鈥檓 very glad that you asked that!

听