Strictly Come Dancing officially reveals first contestant — and it's a first for the show

Craig Revel Horwood; Shirley Ballas; Motsi Mabuse; Anton du Beke for Strictly Come Dancing

(Image credit: BBC/Ray Burmiston)

The first official announcement for Strictly Come Dancing 2024 has arrived, and we now know that comedian Chris McCausland is the latest celebrity contestant confirmed for the brand-new series.

While there has been plenty of speculation about who might be taking part in the dance competition this year, we have all been waiting for an official line from the BBC before the show returns to our screens next month.

Chris, who suffers from the hereditary condition retinitis pigmentosa, lost his sight completely at 22 years old, making him the first blind contestant to appear on Strictly Come Dancing.

Chris's news, which was announced by Josie Gibson and Craig Doyle on ITV1 show This Morning earlier today, comes after Olympic swimmer Tom Dean reportedly let slip that he was also part of this year's lineup last week.

Chris McCausland for Strictly Come Dancing 2024 — Chris is the first official celebrity to be announced for the new series of Strictly. (Image credit: BBC)

The show, which has been surrounded by a huge amount of press recently following allegations made by former celebrity contestants, promises to make this series an extra special one as Strictly celebrates two decades on our screens.

Chris McCausland has been a comedian for over two decades and is a regular face on flagship comedy shows like Have I Got News for You, Would I Lie to You?, QI, The Last Leg, and 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.

He has appeared on Live at the Apollo three times, hosting in 2021, a year that also saw him make his highly acclaimed debut appearance on The Royal Variety Performance.

The 47-year-old star also hosts his Saturday morning ITV chat show called The Chris McCausland Show which is part of the ITV1 weekend line-up which includes Jimmy and Shivi’s Farmhouse Breakfast and he also recently turned up in an episode of Not Going Out.

Chris McCausland as Martin in Not Going Out. (Image credit: BBC/Avalon/Pete Dadds)

Speaking of his new adventure, Chris says: "If anybody out there is thinking 'how the hell is he going to do that?' then rest assured that I am thinking exactly the same thing. I don't dance, I haven't danced, I can't dance, I can't see the dancing I will have to do. What can possibly go wrong? Ok, don't answer that...!”

Strictly Come Dancing 2024 is coming to BBC One in September. You can catch up on past series of the show on BBC iPlayer.

Claire is Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch and has been a journalist for over 15 years, writing about everything from soaps and TV to beauty, entertainment, and even the Royal Family. After starting her career at a soap magazine, she ended up staying for 13 years, and over that time she’s pulled pints in the Rovers Return, sung karaoke in the Emmerdale village hall, taken a stroll around Albert Square, and visited Summer Bay Surf Club in sunny Australia.

After learning some tricks of the trade at websites Digital Spy, Entertainment Daily, and Woman & Home, Claire landed a role at What’s On TV and whattowatch.com writing about all things TV and film, with a particular love for Aussie soaps, Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off.

She’s interviewed everyone from June Brown — AKA Dot Cotton — to Michelle Keegan, swapped cooking tips with baking legend Mary Berry backstage at the NTAs, and danced the night away with soap stars at countless awards bashes. There’s not a lot she doesn’t know about soaps and TV and can be very handy when a soapy question comes up in a pub quiz!

As well as all things soap-related, Claire also loves running, spa breaks, days out with her kids, and getting lost in a good book.