BBC Strictly’s Chris McCausland says he’s ‘falling apart’ after illness

Chris McCausland has become a firm favourite on Strictly Come Dancing after impressing judges and viewers with his skills on the dance floor.

Alongside his dance professional partner Dianne Buswell, the duo completed Movie Week with 30 points.

They performed the Jive to Wayne’s World but ahead of Saturday’s show, the comedian revealed that he has endured a tiring week.

As well as gruelling rehearsals, the visually impaired star shared that he has also been struck down with a cold.

In a video posted to Instagram, Chris and Dianne updated fans on how things had been going over the past few days as they rehearsed ahead of the live show.

Chris announced: “I’ve had a cold. I’m falling apart, but I’m motoring on because I’m a soldier.

“But we’re getting through the dance with the song, all the way through, occasionally better than where it was yesterday.”

Dianne joked that the comedian was exaggerating his illness adding: “Before I even arrived here [for training] you messaged me ‘Oh Di. My throat, my nose, my wrist, my big toe…’

However, Chris hit back that he was simply warning his dance partner about his contagious cold and added: “I was being considerate. I was just to let you know I’ve got a bug.”

The 47-year-old then joked about precautions Dianne might want to take: “My throat’s a bit sore, my nose is bunged up, just letting you know in case you want to wear a helmet.”

The pair have been preparing to take on the salsa this weekend, and during an appearance on the spin-off show It Takes Two, Chris confessed they are both covered in bruises because the dance involves a lot of lifts.

He shared: “It’s been intense. There have been more lifts in it than Canary Wharf. There’s tricks and lifts – we’re both covered in bruises.

“Dianne’s had to use make-up to cover up all over her legs so it doesn’t look like I’ve been beating her up.”