SIX months ago, comic Chris McCausland had never heard the Strictly Come Dancing theme tune.

Now he’s fallen so deeply for the BBC show’s charm, the Liverpool FC fan reckons it’s even better than football.

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Speaking today Glitterball favourite Chris McCausland revealed: ‘Strictly just wasn’t on my radar. The first time I heard the theme tune was in episode one’[/caption]

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Chris is expecting his final dance with Dianne to be an emotional affair as the competition comes to a conclusion[/caption]

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Chris McCausland and pro dance partner Dianne Buswell are being tipped to win the coveted Glitterball[/caption]

Blind Chris, 47, has amazed viewers with his talent, propelling him from rank outsider to favourite to win on Saturday’s live final.

Speaking to press conference, he revealed: “Strictly just wasn’t on my radar. The first time I heard the theme tune was in episode one.

“I didn’t watch the show, obviously. I had no emotional connections to it whatsoever — it was other people telling me that they thought I should really give this some consideration.

“I’ve really come to appreciate how it matters to people, how it lifts their mood, how it helps people overcome their own issues.

“It’s some people’s football, in a way. I appreciate that now.”

This weekend Scouser Chris will perform to Liverpool Football Club anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone by Gerry and the Pacemakers.

He added: “I wouldn’t want to get rid of football. People love it.

“I now appreciate that people love Strictly in the same way. It matters to people.

“When Wynne Evans went out, he said, ‘Look after it for generations to come.’ That was a beautiful sentiment and I don’t think I can top that.”

Chris will be up against JLS band member JB Gill, actress Sarah Hadland and former Love Islander Tasha Ghouri for the Glitterball trophy.

‘I was like, what’s happening, Dianne?’

In the semi-final, his waltz with partner Dianne Buswell, 35, to Metallica’s Nothing Else Matters won them four nines — their highest score yet.

Chris never anticipated his success on the dancefloor, admitting: “I thought I’ll just figure it out as we’re going along.

Can you believe it’s been three-and-a-half months? I can’t remember a life before Strictly. It literally feels like this is all I’ve ever done.

Chris McCausland

“Even the first few episodes, all the way through, I was like, what’s happening, Dianne?

“I didn’t know how that first one would go and I think I exceeded expectations for a lot of people, including myself.

“And then we got the second one done, which was a lot more elegant.

“‘We got away with that, didn’t we?’ is what I kept saying.

“That was like ten, 11 weeks now that I’ve been getting away with it.

“Can you believe it’s been three-and-a-half months? I can’t remember a life before Strictly. It literally feels like this is all I’ve ever done.”

Chris’s wife Patricia and daughter Sophie, 11, are as shocked as he is.

He went on: “The fear was immense. I like a challenge and I like new things.

“But I need to know that I can do good and represent myself and represent other people well.

“My daughter was terrified when I started this. She was so nervous for me, in case I fell over, in case I embarrassed myself.

“As it’s gone on, she’s really got a lot better with it and she’s come to really look forward to it and enjoy it.

“She’d say every Saturday, ‘It doesn’t matter, Daddy, if you go out, because I think you’ve already won.’

“And then when we got to the semi-finals, she said, ‘Daddy, do you know when I said it doesn’t matter? I’ve changed my mind’. She said, ‘I think you can win this thing.’”

On Saturday Chris will also revisit his amazing Couple’s Choice dance to John Lennon’s Instant Karma! — which featured an incredible moment when the studio was plunged into darkness to replicate Chris’s experience of the ballroom.

The pair’s showdance will be to You Get What You Give by New Radicals.

The last waltz

The final will be bittersweet for Chris, who has already begun to imagine what life will be like without Dianne and the dance show.

He said: “We’ve spent so much time together over these last three months.

“Our last dance is going to be our waltz to You’ll Never Walk Alone. It’s an emotional song anyway and I just had this little thought of us ending the dance and that being the end of everything we’ve ever done. It just gets me emotional.”

Aussie Dianne added: “We had a little wobble. I saw Chris’s eyes glistening over.”

Together they have formed one of the most heartwarming partnerships in the show’s history.

Dianne and Chris have promised to stay in touch — despite them joking about a few training room spats.

Chris told his dance partner: “There’s been times where I’ve had to ask you to keep your mouth shut and give me some space.

“I’d say ‘I need a bit of distance between your voice and my face.’

“You can’t be in that intensive relationship for months, with deadlines, and not have those little things.

“You have to have the respect for each other to kind of just turn away and then come back with a smile on your face.

“Because it’s intensive, you know it is. It’s hard. There’s deadlines. And there’s stress.”

Joking, Dianne laughed: “He told me I’m heavier than I sound.

“I would like to think I’ve made you a little bit less moany at times.”

Chris quipped back: “I’d like to think I’ve made you a little less irritating.

“Unless she changes her number, we’re going to be mates.”

Dianne joked: “It’s already done, Chris. I’ve already changed it.”

It’s been an incredible experience. It’s been exhausting. And it’s been the scariest thing I’ve ever done.

The pro dancer has won a whole new legion of fans with the incredible routines she has put together for Chris and how she has taught him to dance.

Chris added: “People say, oh, I feel very lucky to be paired with such and such.

“But I think that whoever is in charge, I think they knew what they were doing, they knew that Diane would be the best partner for me in terms of her humour, outlook on life, just the similarities between us and her communication.

“I think they just knew how good we would work together and so I’m grateful for that.

“You could probably pick her family up and drop them in where I live in Liverpool and they’d get on fine.

“It feels like we’ve come from very similar places despite being from opposite ends of the world.”

Now Chris is ready to rely on Dianne one last time for Saturday’s final, where judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse will guide viewers in a grand vote.

He’s taking a lot more home with him than just the Glitterball trophy, though.

Chris said: “It’s been an incredible experience. It’s been exhausting. And it’s been the scariest thing I’ve ever done.

“But it’s been the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done and the thing that’s going to have the most lasting effect on me in terms of my outlook on the world and life.

“Bananas, innit? It’s been absolutely nuts.”

• Tomorrow, we hear from fellow finalists JB Gill and Sarah Hadland.

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STRICTLY sensation Tasha Ghouri has broken show records throughout her astonishing run on the show, but found herself in the bottom two in last Saturday’s semi-final.

But now she’s told how the criticism has put a fire in her belly.

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Tasha Ghouri and her pro partner Aljaz Skorjanec clinched the first 10 of the series and the first full score of 40[/caption]

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Seeing Tasha on TV wearing her implant has meant a great deal to so many viewers[/caption]

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Ahead of Saturday’s final, the Love Island star, 26, said: “I’ve never looked at the dance off as a negative experience. If anything, it’s added to my experience.

“ I’ve had that journey now, the ups and downs.

“And it’s another opportunity to dance again. So I was like, you know what, let’s just go for it.

“I had so much fire and butterflies in my belly because I was like, I’m not ready to go at the last hurdle.

“I’m so proud that we just went out there and didn’t let it stop us.

“But if anything, it made us. It didn’t break us.”

Tasha and her pro partner Aljaz Skorjanec clinched the first 10 of the series and the first full score of 40.

She added: “To me, I feel like I’ve already won with me by doing that.

“We’ve created such amazing magical dances, the waltz, the American Smooth, the Couple’s Choice.

“I feel like people have known I’ve wanted to do this for such a long time and I’m so proud that we’ve left a footprint there.”

She first turned heads when she danced as Barbie back on Love Island – but now she’s all grown up.

The model has gone full circle since performing in latex on the ITV2 dating show and is now preparing to wow with a chic American Smooth in the Strictly Come Dancing final.

So she’s laughed off the idea she would ever revisit that sexy, pink costume.

Tasha, 26, said: “They’re two completely different shows – Strictly is about dancing and the joy of learning in the most positive way.

“I cannot wait to dance our American Smooth again on Saturday.

“I’ve watched it so many times on YouTube, literally about 500 times every morning in bed.

“I just love it so much.”

Tasha, who was born deaf and wears a cochlear implant, admits she has sometimes struggled with the weight of the competition.

Speaking to press before Saturday night’s live final, Tasha said: “On Saturdays, when all the magic is happening, all the craziness, I’ll literally be in my dressing room and have taken my implant out.

I feel like it’s just been such a special year to be a part of

Tasha Ghouri

“I just literally need to take time out from everything because it can get quite overwhelming with a lot of sensory overload.

“But I always say, you get the challenges to overcome. And it makes you stronger and makes you grow even more.”

Seeing Tasha on TV wearing the implant has meant a great deal to so many viewers – who have been particularly moved by her decision to “bedazzle” her implant each week.

Tasha said: “The costume team put diamantes on my cochlear implant to match my costumes.

“The messages I’ve got from younger women, younger children, teenagers, have said ‘I felt represented because I’ve seen you on TV, I started decorating mine as well’.

‘Absolute dream’

“And that’s a part of representation.

“Especially with Chris as well, I feel like it’s just been such a special year to be a part of because representation is so important to have and I feel so passionate about it, honestly.

“It’s been an absolute dream to have the opportunity to be able to do that and to help people find their confidence and believe in themselves.”

Tasha and partner Aljaz Skoranec will revisit their American Smooth and Couples Choice dances and perform a showdance to Sing, Sing, Sing by Benny Goodman.

Aljaz teased: “There is one thing that we haven’t done and from the moment we got paired up, I thought that this sort of specific look is going to be something that Tasha is going to be the best in.

“And the show dance is the perfect time for it.

“It’s very difficult, we’re still learning it but I think we have a really, really cool dance ready.”

Lauryn Goodman has revealed she wants to “build bridges” with Kyle Goodman after his split from wife Annie Kilner. 

The Celebs Go Dating star, 33, shares two children with footballer Kyle, 34 – a son conceived while he was separated from Annie, 33, and a daughter born after an affair. 

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Earlier this year Kyle – who shares four children with his ex-wife – was said to have been “stunned” after Annie served divorce papers. 

Now Lauryn, mum to son Kario and daughter Kinara, has admitted she hopes she and Kyle can make amends after a very public feud which included a court battle. 

She said: “I hope we can all just move forward and do what’s right by all the children. 

“I have faith and hope that bridges will be built for the sake of Kairo and Kinara, because at the end of the day, we share two wonderful children together and life is just too short.”

Speaking to Closer, Lauryn shared hopes that her children will be able to build a relationship with their dad. 

She said: “I’m hopeful their dad will come back to them and continue to build his relationship with them. 

“I hope for Kyle’s sake it is sooner rather than later, because Kairo is starting to understand now. 

“He asks for his daddy and he’s starting to realise that maybe it’s his choice [not to be around]. I always say that Daddy is busy playing football, but he’s not believing my excuses anymore.”

Lauryn and Kyle most recently clashed over a doorbell at her £2.4m property, which he maintains. 

She was offered a Ring Doorbell after the hi-tech intercom security system at her home failed.

But Lauryn insisted the cheaper alternative would not provide the peace of mind she needs for her family.

A source told The Sun: “She got in touch with Kyle’s property manager and asked if they could have [her security system] fixed.

“They told her no and instead offered a Ring Doorbell system, which doesn’t have nearly the same level of security and won’t open the gate. She’s angry.”

CHOCOHOLICS are thrilled to find a popular corner shop chain has slashed the price of Terry’s Chocolate Orange to just £1 in the lead up to Christmas.

The festive favourite is a perfect chocolate stocking filler, and has been reduced to a single pound coin.

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The price of this Christmas treat has been slashed in thousands of stores[/caption]

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Terry’s Chocolate Orange is on offer for £1 at One Stop[/caption]

Retail convenience business One Stop has branches all over the UK which all have the chocolate treat on offer.

The week-long offer is on from December 18 to 24 so will certainly sweeten the run-up to Christmas.

Usually the product is priced at £1.75 but now it has been reduced by more than 42 per cent.

The deal, released on bargain hunter website hotdealsuk.com, attracted a set of comments thanking whoever spotted it.

One read: “Well worth the small wait.”

Another responded: “Thanks for the heads up!”

One Stop has over 1,000 stores across the country shoppers and

Terry fans can find their local store at www.onestop.co.uk/store-finder/ to get their hands on the discounted chocolate.

Terry’s Chocolate Orange isn’t the only desert with a discount, with the Toffee Crunch, Mint, and All Milk flavours available for a pound as well.

Each chocolate weight from 145g to 157g so is a fair chunk of chocolate for price.

Terry’s Chocolate Mint was describe on the Tesco website as “the moreishly minty sibling our orange Christmas classic has always wanted.”

It has ditched the iconic orange and gone for a cooler taste instead, witch shoppers quick to compliment the new taste.

However when the beloved chocolate manufacturers released the latest flavour, it divided opinions.

The new All Milk flavour is a simple milk chocolate, but presented in the famous “chocolate orange” packaging and shape.

Some were thrilled that they were getting plain chocolate version, as the there had been more than 20 different versions prior.

Terry’s orange-haters took to social media to celebrate that they could get in on the action without facing fruit flavoured chocolate.

Other sweet treat fanatics were left confused as to the point of the new addition.

With Terry’s being associated with it’s iconic orange brand, many said they would simply stick to the original.

MANCHESTER UNITED have identified their first signing under new manager Ruben Amorim ahead of the January transfer window.

According to talkSPORT, United are are in talks to sign Cerro Porteno’s teenage star Diego Leon, who plays in Costa Rica’s first division and is valued at around £4million.

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Manchester United are are in talks to sign Cerro Porteno’s teenage star Diego Leon[/caption]

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Leon is valued at around £4m but Man Utd can’t sign him until he turns 18[/caption]

Negotiations are being led by Man Utd technical director Jason Wilcox after Dan Ashworth’s shock exit as sporting director just five months into the job.

However, Leon, 17, won’t be able to move to Old Trafford during the winter market.

That is because the left-back is under 18 and thus the Red Devils will have to wait until at least April.

FA and Premier League rules do not allow clubs to sign players based abroad before their 18th birthday.

However, the rules do not prevent teams from agreeing deals for underaged players.

The Paraguayan ace stood out last season in Costa Rica with 19 appearances, which saw him score twice.

United have struggled at the left-back position with both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia being stricken by injury.

Shaw recently returned from a calf strain but suffered a setback and immediately returned to the treatment room.

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This comes after reports suggesting new manager Amorim will work on a much smaller budget than predecessor Erik ten Hag.

During Ten Hag’s two-and-a-half years in charge, the Manchester giants splashed more than £600million.

That included £86m on Antony, £70m on Casemiro, £72m on Rasmus Hojlund and £60m on Mason Mount.

However, Amorim will have to work with less amid the growing PSR theat.

THIS is the heart-pounding moment a brave Ukrainian soldier continued firing at Russian targets even after being shot by the enemies.

Bold footage shows bullets hitting the soldier’s helmet, elbow and backpack, but he survives and keeps fighting the Russians at the frontline.

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The moment the Ukrainian soldier is hit by a bullet[/caption]

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The brave fighter ducked for cover but quickly got up and started firing[/caption]

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The solider got serious injurious but survived the attack[/caption]

The clip, shot on a fellow soldier’s GoPro, shows the warrior blasting his assault rifle after surviving what could have been a fatal shot to his head.

Within moments, the Ukrainian duo is hit by an enemy grenade which blasts near one of the soldier’s hands.

But the resilient fighter does not give up.

Instead, he ducks for cover, quickly gets up and starts shooting again.

Reports suggest the soldier got seriously injured in the attack but survived and is now recovering.

It comes after Ukraine allegedly used long-range US ATACMS to strike a major military city in Russia.

The deadly strikes hit Taganrog, in the Rostov region, resulting in 10 deafening explosions and bright flashes seen from afar.

Vladimir Putin’s “Flying Kremlin” doomsday plane was also reportedly hit in the blitz.

Initial reports said there were two possible targets in the bold attack.

One is the Beriev Aircraft Company – which maintains some of Vladimir Putin’s most sensitive planes.

This includes the dictator’s Flying Kremlin Doomsday Ilyushin Il-80 Maxdome plane which would be put to work in nuclear war.

The plant also equips Russia’s A-50 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) spy planes – two of which have been downed in the war at a cost of £260 million each.

The other potential target is the Krasny Hydropress plant, which makes key missile elements and is part of Russia’s Tactical Missile Weapons Corporation.

A large number of fire trucks were reported heading to the plant and at least 10 explosions were heard by locals.

While the scale of the damage is currently unclear, 14 cars parked at the facility – also known as the Beriev Aviation Scientific and Technical Complex – were set ablaze.

Some Russian sources said Ukraine had used its new domestically made Palyanitsa drone missiles to attack Taganrog, but this was unconfirmed.

Other reports said US-supplied ATACMS missiles were used.
Taganrog mayor Svetlana Kambulova said: “The damaged area has been cordoned off by police officers.

“A survey of the territory within a radius of 1 kilometre will be conducted.”

Meanwhile, footage showed Putin’s gas rigs in the Black Sea bursting into flames after being hammered by Ukrainian sea drones.

Ukrainian forces struck the platforms in daring night raids using unmanned craft as they sought to dominate the ocean and defend against Russia.

It comes as Russia is set to deploy Oreshnik hypersonic missiles capable of carrying nukes at Nato’s doorstep.

Putin and pal Alexander Lukashenko today signed a security agreement that finalises the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear arms in Belarus – Moscow’s closest ally.

Putin unveiled the nuclear-capable weapon last month after using it to strike the city of Dnipro in central Ukraine, sharply escalating tensions in the almost three-year-long conflict.

The dictator revealed he blasted Ukraine with a new kind of ballistic missile that hurtled down from the edge of space in a “depraved” act of nuclear brinkmanship.

It was a direct response to Ukraine’s use of US-made ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles.

As the two sides fire missiles and drones at each other discussions around peace have begun to thrash out what an end to the war could look like.

Ukrainian officials have held high-level talks with US President-elect Donald Trump’s team

Zelensky recently said Ukraine could agree to a cease-fire if Ukraine were permitted to join Nato.

KANYE West and his wife Bianca Censori looked glamourous as ever in zebra print boots wile out and about in Tokyo.

It comes as Bianca, 29, and her famous rapper husband, 47, continue to enjoy their extended vacation in the famous Japanese city.

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Kanye West’s wife Bianca Censori rocked a pair of zebra print boots in Tokyo[/caption]

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The rapper was spotted snacking as he strolled through the Japanese city[/caption]

The pair were spotted enjoying some downtime as they enjoyed a bite to eat.

Bianca looked stylish in a pair of animal print black and white heeled boots and a longline brown leather coat.

While Flashing Lights rapper Kanye opted for a black sweatshirt, matching trousers and a pair of shades.

The couple looked in good spirits as they strolled through the city, with Kanye enjoying a snack from a brown paper back.

Just yesterday, Bianca rocked a tiny tank top for a kiss-face selfie with a gal pal whilst out in Tokyo.

The two women looked sexy as they enjoyed their time in Tokyo.

The new pic comes hot off the heels of a video which emerged of the famous couple looking smitten as they stepped out for a lunch date in Japan.

Kanye could be seen rocking a black sweatshirt, while Australian model Bianca wore a black leather look for the occasion.

Shocking fans by being fully clothed, Bianca usually wears a lot less on dates with her husband.

While Bianca could be seen tucking into her lunch, as Kanye started to dance.

Kanye and Bianca will celebrate their second wedding anniversary this month after the couple got married in 2022.

Bianca married Kim Kardashian’s ex-husband just weeks after Kim’s divorce from the rapper was finalized.

When the Aussie model and architect married Kanye on December 20, it was a small and very secret ceremony.

At first, it was thought that the couple were not legally married, but in October 2023, it was confirmed that they were after obtaining a marriage license.

Earlier this fall, reports claimed that the couple had separated, but they have since put on several smitten displays in public.

EXTENDED VACATION

Kanye and Bianca seem to be enjoying their extended vacation in Tokyo, with the couple often seen on dates together.

Just last week, Bianca ditched her pants to grab a coffee with her man and donned some seriously see-through white tights.

The sheer outfit was worn for a low-key coffee run, with a video showing the pair walking around a well-lit Starbucks.

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The couple tied the knot in 2022[/caption]

CHRIS McCausland has made a candid confession after revealing he has been left feeling “worn down” ahead of the Strictly final.

The comedian and his dance partner Dianne Buswell have avoided the dance-off at all costs which has allowed them to sail on through to the BBC show’s big final.

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Chris McCausland had admitted he ‘fell apart’ ahead of the Strictly final weekend[/caption]

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The star spoke of an emotional wobble on It Takes Two[/caption]

But it all appears to be taking its toll on Chris who has admitted that he “fell apart” as rehearsals for the final kicked in.

The star spoke about his emotional battle during an appearance on It Takes Two where host Janette Manrara quizzed him on how he was doing after receiving the news that he would be sailing on through to the final.

Chris told the host: “It has been an emotional few days this week.

“I just feel worn down – my resilience has been worn down.

“I kind of fell apart a bit on Saturday and I haven’t fully recovered.”

Sat alongside Dianne, he then continued: “We have been training this week and I’ve had a few wobbles, haven’t I?”

Dianne insisted that Chris had faced “emotional wobbles” throughout the week in training before he interjected to say: “I am still feeling quite emotional.”

Despite this, Chris appeared to be in good spirits going forward and looking ahead to the final.

He will be up against Love Island star Tasha Ghouri, actress Sarah Hadland and singer and JLS star JB Gill – with the four of them vying to take the Glitterball trophy home.

However, eagle-eyed fans have already revealed who they believe is in the top two after noticing a trend among the casts of previous years shows.

The theory has accurately predicted the final two for the past eight years, although it can’t predict exactly who will win and lift the Glitterball trophy on Saturday night.

The ‘curse’ theory indicates that the final two couples left at the end of the Strictly competition are the ones who haven’t competed in a dance off, which this year would mean Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell would go up against Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola.

Writing on Reddit, one Strictly fan explained: “If y’all haven’t noticed the couple who wins are the couple that doesn’t land in the dance off at all, so Chris or Sarah have a high chance of winning.”

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The dancing pair have made it to the final[/caption]

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But it has begun to take its toll on Chris[/caption]

The ID. Buzz range is the first VW model in Australia to receive a third-party connected services system. It'll then roll out to more models.

The multi-billion takeover offer for produce grower Costa Group has emerged as the top deal in what was a muted year for mergers and acquisitions in the Australian agribusiness, food and beverage sectors.