Chris McCausland won’t be taking part in the upcoming Strictly tour due to a clash with his own comedy tour. 

The comedian, 47, has left BBC bosses with a big headache as he is the bookies’ favourite to win the show. 

The Strictly live tour first launched in January 2009 with 2008 winner Tom Chambers among the line-up. Every winner since has taken part. 

But his stand-up show, Yonks, has dates throughout January and February which clash directly with Strictly’s live theatre show. 

Last month, 100 extra dates were added to his tour, which runs from January 2025 to April 2026. 

The Yonks tour was postponed due to Chris’ participation with Strictly and so he is adamant he won’t move the dates for a second time.  

Chris McCausland won’t be taking part in the upcoming Strictly tour due to a clash with his own comedy tour

The comedian, 47, has left BBC bosses with a big headache as he is the bookies’ favourite to win the show

A spokesman for Chris told The Mirror: ‘Chris has already shifted the dates of his tour to do Strictly and that wasn’t an easy thing to do. There were a lot of disappointed people and it was stressful – we got a lot of messages. So he couldn’t move them again, absolutely not.

‘Everyone has been very straight about this all the way along the line. It’s a great shame, because he’d love to do the tour, but Chris is not available. He said at the point of signing up that he wouldn’t be able to do it, that it wasn’t going to be possible, it was always clear.

‘The lovely thing is no one could have foreseen just how well it was going to go for him on Strictly. No one thought he’d get this far. But having already moved his tour dates once to accommodate the show, he is unable to do it again.’ 

Strictly Glitterball odds

Chris McCausland: 1/5

Sarah Hadland: 9/2

Tasha Ghouri: 10/1

Jamie Borthwick: 40/1

Montell Douglas:  100/1

Pete Wicks: 100/1

Source: Ladbrookes 

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They added Chris’ own tour was already in the diary and it wouldn’t be fair to fans to move it for a second time. 

MailOnline has contacted Chris’ representative for comment.  

The comedian trades at just 1/5 – an implied probability of 83% – to win the programme, having held favouritism since the second week.

Sarah Hadland is deemed the most likely threat to Chris march to glory but is still well adrift in the betting at 9/2, with Tasha Ghouri rounding off the top three at 10/1.

Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: ‘There’s no stopping Chris McCausland in the Strictly outright market and the comedian seems to already have one hand on the Glitterball Trophy.

‘Despite there being four weeks left, Chris trades at just 1/5 to win this year’s series, giving him serious breathing space in the betting ahead of Sarah Hadland (9/2) and Tasha Ghouri (10/1).’ 

The couple achieved a staggering 37 out of 40 points from the judges after their American Smooth on Saturday

Strictly Come Dancing have announced Gladiator and Olympian Montell Douglas (L) and actress Sarah Hadland (R) will be joining the UK live tour 2025 

Shayne Ward will also be joining the line up after his time in the compeтιтion came to an end earlier this month

Read More Strictly Come Dancing announces first THREE celebrities to join UK live tour 2025

In Blackpool last Saturday, Chris and his partner Dianne Buswell, 35, achieved a staggering 37 out of 40 points from the judges after their American Smooth.

Dianne’s parents have now flown over from Australia to see the pair in action in Saturday’s upcoming show.  

Strictly announced the first three celebrities who are joining the UK tour heading across the country from January 17 to February 9.

Gladiator and Olympian Montell Douglas and actress Sarah Hadland have been confirmed for the tour alongside singer Shayne Ward.

They will be joined by the Strictly Judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and for the first time on the tour, Motsi Mabuse.

Meanwhile It Takes Two’s Janette Manrara is also returning to host the tour once again.

Craig declared: ‘Strictly fans are in for a huge treat on the live tour – it’s going to be bigger and better than ever before.

‘Audiences will be able to enjoy all of the glitz and glamour of the TV show and see their favourite celebrities and dancers up-close and personal. And with Motsi joining us for the first time, it’s going to be even more FAB-U-LOUS!’