Strictly favourite Chris McCausland opens up on eye condition which left him blind at 22

Strictly Come Dancing prima Chris McCausland explained the hereditary information that near him unsighted astatine 22 arsenic helium continues to impressment connected the dancefloor

TV prima Chris McCausland made past erstwhile helium became the archetypal unsighted contestant to execute connected Strictly Come Dancing.

His hugely awesome regular and amiable property has seen him go 1 of this season's favourites to assistance the coveted Glitterball. The 47-year-old comedian, who is good known for appearances connected shows specified arsenic Have I Got News For You and QI, impressed some the judges and viewers with his moves connected the creation level alongside Dianne Buswell. They person already performed an energetic cha cha to the Beatles' Twist and Shout and the Foxtrot to Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy by The Tams.

The erstwhile CBeebies antheral who has been hailed arsenic an inspiration antecedently opened up connected the information that near him unsighted aged 22.

His nonaccomplishment of show came from a hereditary information called retinitis pigmentosa. According to the National Eye Institute, aboriginal symptoms of the information see nonaccomplishment of nighttime imaginativeness and broadside vision, portion imaginativeness nonaccomplishment and blindness comes later. The organisation says the information "makes cells successful the retina interruption down dilatory implicit time, causing imaginativeness loss". As of yet, determination is nary cure of retinitis pigmentosa.

Last year, Chris told iNews of his condition: "My grandma had it, and my mum. Basically, I'd been going unsighted precise dilatory since I was born, and truthful didn't adjacent truly announcement it happening. Like the frog successful the cookware of boiling water."

He went connected to picture his acquisition of blindness, saying: "They accidental that erstwhile you suffer your sight, your proceeding gets better. It doesn't. But you bash wage much attraction to it. So erstwhile you're sat astatine a formation resort, and you're hot, and you can't spot what's astir you, past you conscionable extremity up concentrating connected however blistery you really are. I endure much for it."

When creation spouse Diane spoke of however she was going to thatch Chris the steps to the show's intricate dances anterior to the show, she admitted she "didn't person a clue". However, it's thought the duo person already cracked the codification arsenic they dazzle unneurotic connected the dancefloor.

And a creation adept has claimed the cardinal portion of the concern that volition help. Rashmi Becker, who runs ballroom dancing classes for unsighted radical astatine Step Change Studios, says Chris volition beryllium utilizing carnal cues from Dianne to enactment retired wherever to move.

The adept says Diane past would person physically positioned Chris truthful helium knew wherever to be. Speaking to the Guardian she that Chris moved confidently connected the dancefloor arsenic she believes helium familiarised himself with it. She went connected to explicate the value successful unsighted dancers walking astir the abstraction to recognize the layout anterior to their creation routine.

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