BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Chris McCausland says why Blackpool week 'means more to him' amid personal countdown

Chris McCausland has told why Strictly Come Dancing's Blackpool special 'means more to him' as he and Dianne Buswell prepare for their next performance.

The comedian and his professional dance partner made it through to week nine of the BBC One dance contest after their epic performance in the ballroom last Saturday night (November 9). They performed their couple’s choice routine to Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) by John Lennon.

They closed week eight of Strictly's 20th-anniversary series with the impressive jazz-inspired performance featuring a "poignant" blackout moment, imitating Chris' own experience with blindness, with him since saying it was to put viewers in the dark and be surprised by what they saw afterwards - which was an epic spin in which Dianne laid across his shoulders.

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The joyous performance received rapturous applause from the audience and a score of 33 out of a possible 40 points from the four judges - Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke.

It was later confirmed during Sunday night's (November 10) results show that Chris and Dianne had made it through to week nine of the competition, which just so happens to be Strictly's annual Blackpool special and will see the eight remaining couples perform live in the iconic Tower Ballroom.

Speaking about performing at the venue, Chris, 47, said: "It’s something that means a lot to the professional dancers. Strictly is a two-way relationship and they don’t get to dance there every year with a partner because they leave at different points of the competition each year."

He added: "To be able to get to Blackpool with Dianne and give her that opportunity to dance there again means more to me than me being able to go there myself."

It comes amid Dianne's personal countdown to when her parents will arrive from Australia to watch her perform live in the Strictly ballroom. Speaking exclusively to the ECHO ahead of his last performance, Chris said: "I've been in here longer than I thought I would be. Everybody goes on about Blackpool, which is next week. Me and Dianne have really had this pipedream of being here the week after Blackpool because her mum and dad are coming from Australia and they haven't seen her dance live for eight years.

"If we can get through these next two weeks then we've hit our goal of her being able to have that moment. This is nothing without her, she has got the most out of me and I think it will be nice if we're both able to give something to each other. If we can get to that moment then stick a fork in me, I'll be done. But certainly, I'm hoping to stay in this for as long as possible."