Chris McCausland has broken his silence as he missed out on picking up his first-ever Bafta award in person, with Dianne Buswell collecting their gong solo.
The reigning Strictly Come Dancing champions won the memorable moment award at the Bafta Television Awards 2025 on Sunday (May 11), which is voted for by the public.
The BBC One dance contest's winning couple's Waltz to the Liverpool anthem You'll Never Walk Alone was the performance that earned them the nomination.
The magical performance, which they recreated during the Strictly 2024 final back in December, saw Dianne leave the ballroom floor so her partner could dance on his own before she returned to spinning in his arms moments later in tear-jerking scenes.
Accepting their award, Dianne said on stage: "In one minute and 30 seconds of a dance, I feel like this told such a story. A story of hope, determination, resilience and vulnerability, all in that one minute 30."
She added: “This moment meant so much to the both of us, so I’m just so thrilled that we have this."
Chris wasn't able to attend the ceremony as he continues touring across the country with his stand-up show, Yonk!, but Chris said: "Chris did have something he wanted me to say, and that is ‘After 22 years in comedy, he wins a Bafta for dancing,' before joking that it "hurts".
Following the ceremony, Chris posted a video to Instagram which featured a clip of the performance used to reveal the nominees before the moment Strictly was confirmed as the awards recipient this year.
Alongside the post, he wrote: "Well…I thought it would be a disaster but…who knew! Thank you to everyone that voted - genuinely , I’m overwhelmed, and thank you @diannebuswell - what a journey that was! Thank you @bafta @bbcstudios @hdmanagement."
He also filmed a video in which he said: "Hello everybody. Listen, me and Dianne only went and won the Bafta today didn't we! I'm very proud of her representing the two of us. Her speech was amazing.
"But I'm in Warrington. I've had two shows here today and these are shows I cancelled to do Strictly in the first place so I couldn't exactly cancel a second time to go to the Baftas..."
He joked that he thought Gavin & Stacey would pick up the gong, before adding: "Thank you very much to everyone who voted. It's the only one down to a public vote, so I really appreciate it. I just hope we get two of them, otherwise me and Dianne are going to fall out trying to share that thing, aren't we? Thank you very much. Bafta winners!"
Strictly host Tess Daly said: "So well deserved! A moment never to be forgotten." Vito Coppola commented: " I LOVED IT. Congratulations. So well deserved! I m so proud." Amy Dowden shared: "So deserved! A moment in strictly history! THANK YOU."
Fellow 2024 finalist Tasha Ghouri cheered: "SO DESERVED AND PROUD." Dianne herself sweetly added: "So proud of us."
The comedian proved to be a fan favourite on Strictly, winning the show’s 20th anniversary series with Buswell. He was the show’s first blind contestant, having lost his sight completely by the age of 22 because of retinitis pigmentosa, a hereditary eye disease which causes gradual degeneration of the retina.
The moment beat competition from popular BBC sitcom Gavin And Stacey, which aired its final episode on Christmas Day 2024. Also nominated was a steamy moment from series three of Bridgerton, involving Nicola Coughlan’s character Penelope Featherington and Luke Newton’s Colin Bridgerton.
