Chris McCausland Strictly win ‘opens doors’ for blind people

Mr Hayward said he had been concerned in the first couple of weeks of McCausland’s Strictly journey.

However, he said the salesman turned comedian had grown into the training and flourished to the point he became the overwhelming bookies favourite.

“It’s not just tokenism,” he said.

“What we need more of when it comes to inclusivity is show what guys like myself and many, many other disabled people have been doing – incredible stuff for years.

“Really shine a light on that in these entertainment shows, just on ordinary people, it doesn’t have to be a celebrity.

“I think there’s a hunger for it nowadays to be quite honest.”