Chris McCausland’s historic Strictly Come Dancing victory has helped salvage the BBC’s reputation amid recent controversies, it has been claimed.
Speaking to GB News, the former editor-in-chief of New! and Star magazine Lebby Eyres praised the “absolutely amazing show” and its outcome, after the 47-year-old comedian and partner Dianne Buswell lifted the glitterball trophy.
Eyres described the final as one of the most memorable in the show’s history, with McCausland and Buswell capturing the nation’s hearts.
“I went on social media about ten minutes before the final result was announced, and it was literally 100 per cent in favour of Chris and Dianne – the whole nation got behind them and the whole nation wanted them to win”, she told GB News.
Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell lifted the glitterball trophy on Saturday night
BBC
The victory even managed to break through judge Craig Revel Horwood’s notoriously tough exterior, as the Strictly star read a poem for McCausland during the final.
“The bit that I loved the best was when Claudia said to Chris that he had broken Craig – we finally saw Craig show his soft side,” Eyres noted.
Eyres highlighted the exceptional partnership between Chris and his professional partner.
“Anton Du Beke summed it up best and he said Chris may not have been the best dancer, but he’s an extraordinary person,” she explained.
McCausland and Buswell beat JLS singer JB Gill, actress Sarah Hadland and former Love Islander Tasha Ghouri in the show’s grand finale
BBC
The former editor praised Dianne Buswell’s role in their success, stating: “Dianne is just fantastic, she’s a fantastic partner, she’s bubbly, she’s supportive.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
“You could see from the way that they were interacting last night how much it meant to both of them.
“And also, I think you could see how much that meant to the rest of the dancers and the rest of the competitors on Strictly, everyone was overjoyed for them.”
When asked if the show’s result had “saved the BBC” during recent difficulties, Eyres was unequivocal in her response.
“Absolutely, I think without a doubt. It has been a really difficult year, even the beginning of this series was a little bit difficult for them.
Lebby Eyres told GB News that the ‘nation wanted Chris and Dianne to win’
GB News
“But now this is a moment that no one will ever forget. Everyone that was involved said it was the best final ever, and I agree it was truly emotional and really a deserving winner.”
The final result marked a defining moment in Strictly Come Dancing’s history, though Eyres acknowledged it may have been “a little bit hard on Tasha, who maybe in any other year might’ve won.”
However, the overwhelming public support for Chris and Dianne proved decisive in creating what many involved called the “best final ever”, Eyres concluded.