Chris McCausland took to the stage for the first night of his Yonks! stand-up tour in Walsall on Friday night. 

The comedian, 47, beamed as he dished out jokes to the crowd as he kicked off his mammoth UK and Ireland tour featuring over 250 dates that will take him well into 2026.

Meanwhile, just 12 miles away in Birmingham, Chris’ professional partner and fellow Strictly winner Dianne Buswell was strutting her stuff for the launch of the Strictly Come Dancing live tour.

The dancer, 35, dazzled in a gold mini dress as she joined her fellow dancers at the Utilita Arena for the first of the live shows at the venue before the spectacular tour moves on.

Chris’ absence from the Strictly tour marks the first time a winner of the show has not taken part.

Chris McCausland was all smiles on Friday night as he took to the stage for the first night of his Yonks! stand-up tour in Walsall

Meanwhile, just 12 miles away in Birmingham , Chris’ professional partner and fellow Strictly winner Dianne Buswell was strutting her stuff for the launch of the Strictly Come Dancing live tour

Back in December, Chris made Strictly Come Dancing history by becoming the first blind contestant to win the coveted glitterball trophy.

Speaking in December, the comedy star confirmed to fans that he would not be taking to the dancefloor with Dianne once more. 

He explained on X: ‘I’m afraid I will not be able to do the Strictly tour. My own tour was meant to be on the road in September and a lot of dates were moved to Jan and Feb to accommodate doing #Strictly.

‘It’s unfortunate as it’s been so much fun, but my own dates can’t be moved for a second time.’

Despite his missing out on reuniting with his Strictly pals, Chris looked in his element as he entertained at the Walsall Arena.

Looking sharp in a grey suit and white T-shirt, the comic appeared to be having a great time as he continued the tour, which had previously been rescheduled from September to avoid clashing with his Strictly main show stint.

It comes after news Chris has landed an exciting new job after soaring to success and winning the hearts of the nation on the BBC dance compeтιтion last month.

The comedian is joining the series four lineup of Comedy Central Live – a stand-up series that will include four episodes, set to air weekly on Comedy Central UK in early 2025.

The comedian, 47, beamed as he dished out jokes to the crowd as he kicked off his mammoth UK and Ireland tour featuring over 250 dates that will take him well into 2026

Chris looked in his element as he entertained at the Walsall Arena

Looking sharp in a grey suit and white T-shirt, the comic appeared to be having a great time as he continued the tour

He was seen being helped out by an ᴀssistant as he performed

Chris’ Yonks! tour had previously been rescheduled from September to avoid clashing with his Strictly main show stint

Chris looked chilled in backstage snaps from the tour

He looked relaxed ahead of taking to the stage 

Read More Strictly stars Tasha Ghouri and Amy Dowden share a behind the scenes look at tour life

He is set to perform alongside the likes of Judi Love, Amy Matthews, Kane Brown, Ola Labib, Jack Skipper, Amy Gledhill and Joshua Bethania in the fan-favourite show.

The new series will also feature an additional 30 digital episodes that will be put out on the network’s social media accounts where each act will perform their own set.

Last month, it was claimed Chris – who is blind – had a big-money deal awaiting him to stay with the BBC as his humour ‘can connect with ordinary viewers at home’.

A TV insider told The Sun: ‘What he did by keeping everyone in fits during the course of ‘Strictly’ was a show that he wasn’t just funny, but proved he had a traditional sense of humour that can connect with the ordinary viewers at home.

‘That’s something which critics have said is lacking from many comedy series on the Beeb, and Chris could breathe new life into a genre which was once a mainstay for the corporation.’

Before adding that Chris’ talents could also be used for more general entertainment show and bosses are also planning to reunite him with pro partner Dianne to recapture their ‘sensational chemistry’. 

Elsewhere, Dianne, 35, dazzled in a gold mini dress as she joined her fellow dancers at the Utilita Arena for the first of the live shows at the venue before the spectacular tour moves on

Back in December, Chris made Strictly Come Dancing history by becoming the first blind contestant to win the coveted glitterball trophy 

Chris’ absence from the Strictly tour marks the first time a winner of the show has not taken part

Speaking in December, the comedy star confirmed to fans that he would not be taking to the dancefloor with Dianne once more

He explained on X: ‘I’m afraid I will not be able to do the Strictly tour. My own tour was meant to be on the road in September and a lot of dates were moved to Jan and Feb to accommodate doing #Strictly’

However, it is not just comedy shows that Chris could be a part of, but also general entertainment programming – such as earlier this year when he presented his talk show on ITV1 called The Chris McCausland Show.

The insider continued: ‘They are considering ways of him being reunited with pro partner Dianne [Buswell] as they had such a sensational chemistry together.’

The Liverpool-born star and Dianne lifted the coveted Glitterball Trophy on December 14 after viewers voted for them as the winners of the hit show.

Chris not only made history during his Strictly stint as the show’s first ever blind contestant, but also impressed bosses with his cheeky wit which is said to have helped to save the glitzy compeтιтion following a year of scandals.

He also delivered Channel 4’s Alternative Christmas Message on December 25 to call for an end to discrimination against disabled people, and for employers and the government to support their access to jobs.