Thursday, September 19, 2024

Strictly Come Dancing ‘signs up’ first blind contestant

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The 46-year-old CBeebies actor lost his sight because of a condition called retinitis pigmentosa, and has spoken in the past of how it has impacted his life and career.

“I’m blind but I don’t see black,” he explained in an interview ahead of his appearance on the Channel 4 reality show, Scared of the Dark.

“I still see light and space, I still have an awareness of the space around me, not in terms of objects and things, but in terms of the room and whether there might be something in front of me.”

He began his career as a web developer, but could no longer continue in the job after his eyesight deteriorated at university.

McCausland is known to children’s TV viewers for his role as Rudi the market trader in CBeebies show Me Too!.

He also presented The Wonders of the World I Can’t See on Channel 4, as well as a BBC Radio 4 series You Heard It Here First.

He previously said about disability representation on-screen: “It’s great that there’s people coming through who are able to represent disability while also having the experience to do the job properly.

“There’s no point fast-tracking performers on to TV before they’re ready.

“My attitude has always been to represent by not banging you over the head.

“I think the best way to represent a disability is to make people forget about it whenever possible. It’s always part of you.”

Strictly Come Dancing is expected to return to BBC One for its 22nd series in the autumn.

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