Strictly Come Dancing’s Dianne Buswell looked very emotional after noticing her parents cry following her performance with Chris McCausland on Saturday. 

Mark, who began treatment for cancer last year, and Rina Buswell flew from Australia to watch their daughter, 35, perform as the comedian, 47, remains the bookies’ favourite to lift the glitterball. 

After dancing a matador-themed Pasa Doble routine with comedian Chris, 47,  Dianne, 35, said: ‘Don’t make me cry mum!’, after host Tess Daly pointed out her parents were crying in the audience.

They scored 33 points for their dance to El Gato Montes by Manuel Panella. 

Judge Craig told the duo  ‘it was wonderful, but..’ before rattling off a number of flaws, but concluded it was a ‘solid’ performance.

In the Sambathon, the pair were sent off first. The comedian trades at just 1/5 – an implied probability of 83% – to win the programme, having held favouritism since the second week.

Strictly Come Dancing’s Dianne Buswell looked very emotional after noticing her parents cry following her performance with Chris McCausland on Saturday 

Mark, who began treatment for cancer last year, and Rina Buswell flew from Australia to watch their daughter, 35, perform as the comedian, 47, remains the bookies’ favourite 

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).’ 

Saturday’s performance comes after Chris has revealed the innovative ways Dianne uses to teach him the routine. 

The TV alum, who is the first blind contestant to take part in the hit BBC show, said he feels like a ‘bendy Spiderman’ in rehearsals as he figures out the steps. 

Chris admitted that Diane initially ‘didn’t have a clue’ how to teach him choreography with the pair trying many different methods. 

Appearing on The Graham Norton Show on Friday, he explained: ‘When we started, we didn’t have a clue how we would do it so decided to wing it and see what happens. I had never been taught to dance and Dianne had never taught anyone that couldn’t see.

The Aussie dancer took to the dancefloor with the comedian and performed a matador-themed Paso Doble, which earned them 33 points

It comes days after Chris admitted Dianne initially ‘didn’t have a clue’ how to teach him choreography with the pair trying many different methods on The Graham Norton Show

Sarah Hadland is deemed the most likely threat to Chris march to glory but is still well adrift in the betting at 9/2 

‘She sometimes describes what needs doing, sometimes I have to get on my hands and knees and figure out what she is doing with her legs and feet, and sometimes she picks a part of me and put it where she wants it.’ 

He added: ‘I’m like a bendy Spiderman! But whatever it is we are doing it is working.’

Reflecting on their performance last weekend Chris said: ‘Being at Blackpool was wonderful – it’s like the Wembley of ballroom dancing. 

‘I’m actually surprised I’m still in it. It was perfect and I celebrated like I’d won the FA cup!’ 

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

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

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

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

Read More Strictly favourite Chris McCausland reveals if he will be taking part in the UK tour

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. 

Speaking on The Graham Norton show, he added: ‘With all the TV work I’ve being doing over the last five years people think I’ve come from nowhere but I’ve being doing stand up for 20 years. 

‘I love it and it’s opened all these doors to other amazing things and now those things are feeding the stand up. 

‘It’s a beautiful little circle. I love all this other stuff but I’m looking forward to getting back out on the road and doing something I am confident at.’

Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard: Week Nine 

1. Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec – 40 out of 40, Sambathon: 6. Total: 46

2. JB Gill and Lauren Oakley – 39 out of 40, Sambathon: 7. Total: 46

3. Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe – 37 out of 40, Sambathon 5. Total 42

4. Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola – 36 out of 40, Sambathon 4. Total: 40

5. Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell – 33 out of 40, Sambathon 1. Total: 34

6. Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas – 32 out of 40, Sambathon 2. Total: 34

7. Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal – 29 out of 40, Sambathon 3. Total: 32