If winning under a cloud of controversy wasn’t enough, Dianne Buswell and Chris McCausland stirred the proverbial pot on Sunday evening by winning Best TV Moment at the TV BAFTA Awards.

Professional dancer Buswell was given short odds of winning the Strictly Come Dancing Glitter Ball after being paired with comedian McCausland, 47, who lost his sight at the age of 22 due to genetic condition retinitis pigmentosa. 

But a series of impressive performances, consistently high scores and McCausland’s self-deprecating brand of humour culminated in the pair defying critics and lifting the trophy after beating JB Gill, Tasha Ghouri and Sarah Hadland in the series 22 finale.

In front of a full house at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday, the feat claimed further accolades by claiming a TV BAFTA – just months after Strictly Come Dancing battled back from a string of very public controversies. 

The show won Best TV Moment for McCausland’s moving ‘blackout’ waltz to You’ll Never Walk Alone – choreographed to highlight his visual impairment and echo a similar routine performed by deaf contestant Rose Ayling-Ellis in 2021. 

While the comic was absent, a triumphant Buswell, 36, was on hand to personally accept the award and show it off backstage in the winners room. 

If winning under a cloud of controversy wasn’t divisive enough, Dianne Buswell and Chris McCausland stirred the proverbial pot on Sunday evening by winning Best TV Moment at the TV BAFTA Awards

The show won Best TV Moment for McCausland’s moving ‘blackout’ waltz to You’ll Never Walk Alone – choreographed to highlight his visual impairment 

Strictly earned the accolade after beating pivotal scenes from Bridgerton, Gavin & Stacey, Mr. Bates vs The Post Office, Rivals and The Traitors to the award.  

Australian dancer Buswell was accompanied by her long-term boyfriend and former Strictly Come Dancing partner Joe Sugg as they greeted pH๏τographers on the red carpet earlier that night.

In September, McCausland won plaudits from Strictly viewers by paying tribute to Liverpool – his home city – with a solo waltz before quietly asking Buswell: ‘Did I do OK?’

It was a rare moment of sunshine for the show after it pushed ahead with its 22nd series despite being hit with a wave of unsavoury allegations that began in May 2024 with fan favourite Giovanni Pernice accused of backstage bullying. 

Pernice quit the show and faced an internal probe that later exonerated him of any wrongdoing after former celebrity partner Amanda Abbington claimed she was left with post traumatic stress disorder as a result of his ‘militant approach to training’. 

A source told The Sun at the time: ‘Gio feels the scrutiny on him has become too much and now is the time to make a fresh start.

‘He wants to focus on other TV projects, and feels he’s achieved all he can on Strictly, having won the trophy back in 2021 and reaching the final an unprecedented four times.

‘He remains adamant he’s done nothing wrong other than being a hard taskmaster, but knows his style of training isn’t to everyone’s liking – especially in this day and age.’

While the comic was absent, a triumphant Buswell was on hand to personally accept the award and show it off backstage in the winners room

In September, McCausland won plaudits from Strictly viewers by paying tribute to Liverpool – his home city – with a solo waltz before quietly asking Buswell: ‘Did I do OK?’ 

Australian dancer Buswell was accompanied by her long-term boyfriend and former Strictly Come Dancing partner Joe Sugg as they greeted pH๏τographers on the red carpet 

Read More Inside the ‘ultra tough’ dance school attended by under-fire Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima

Worse would follow, with Graziano di Prima fired by BBC bosses over claims of ‘physically and verbally abusive’ behaviour towards celebrity dance partner Zara McDermott. 

Addressing his exit from the show, a ‘devastated’ Graziano later wrote on Instagram: ‘I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly. 

‘My intense pᴀssion and determination to win might have affected my training regime.

‘While respecting the BBC HR process, I acknowledge it’s only right for the sake of the show that I step away. I am saddened that I wasn’t allowed to offer a quote to the online news stories, and I take on board the sensitivity of the situation.

‘There’s more to this story that I am unable to discuss at this time, but I am committed to being strong for my family and friends. I wish the Strictly family nothing but success in the future.’

Giovanni Pernice quit Strictly Come Dancing after former celebrity partner Amanda Abbington claimed she was left with post traumatic stress disorder as a result of his ‘militant approach’ 

Worse would follow, with Graziano di Prima fired by BBC bosses over claims of ‘physically and verbally abusive’ behaviour towards celebrity dance partner Zara McDermott 

Overlooking the controversy as she accepted the award on behalf of McCausland on Sunday evening, Buswell said: ‘In one minute and 30 seconds of a dance, I feel like this told such a story.   

‘A story of hope, determination, resilience and vulnerability.

‘This moment meant so much to the both of us, so I’m just so thrilled that we have this.’ 

Ending with a comedic message from her former dance partner, she added: ‘Chris did have something he wanted me to say, and that is “after 22 years in comedy, he wins a Bafta for dancing”‘. 

2025 TV BAFTA AWARDS – ALL THE WINNERS

Drama Series 

Blue Lights (BBC One) – WINNER

Sherwood (BBC One)

Supacell (Netflix)

Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light (BBC One)

Limited Drama 

Baby Reindeer (Netflix)

Lost Boys and Fairies (BBC One)

Mr Bates vs the Post Office (ITV1) – WINNER

One Day (Netflix)

International 

After The Party (Channel 4)

Colin From Accounts (BBC Two)

Say Nothing (Disney+)

Shogun (Disney+) – WINNER

True Detective: Night Country (Sky Atlantic)

You Are Not Alone: Fighting The Wolfpack, Netflix

Leading Actress 

Anna Maxwell Martin, Until I Kill You (ITV1)

Billie Piper, Scoop (Netflix)

Lola Petticrew, Say Nothing (Disney+)

Marisa Abela, Industry (BBC One) – WINNER

Monica Dolan, Mr Bates Vs The Post Office (ITV1)

Sharon D Clarke, Mr Loverman (BBC One)

Leading Actor 

David Tennant, Rivals (Disney+)

Gary Oldman, Slow Horses (Apple TV+)

Lennie James, Mr Loverman (BBC One) – WINNER 

Martin Freeman, The Responder (BBC One)

Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer (Netflix)

Toby Jones, Mr Bates Vs The Post Office (ITV1)

Female Performance in a Comedy 

Anjana Vasan, We Are Lady Parts (Channel 4)

Kate O’Flynn, Everyone Else Burns Channel 4)

Lolly Adefope, The Franchise (Sky Comedy)

Nicola Coughlan, Big Mood (Channel 4)

Ruth Jones, Gavin & Stacey (BBC One) – WINNER

Sophie Willan, Alma’s Not Normal (BBC Two) 

Scripted Comedy 

Alma’s Not Normal (BBC Two) – WINNER

Brᴀssic (Sky Max)

G’Wed (ITV1)

Ludwig (BBC One)

Specialist Factual 

Atomic People (BBC Two) – WINNER

Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story (National Geographic)

Children of the Cult (ITV1)

Miners’ Strike 1984: The Battle For Britain (Channel 4)

Reality  

Dragons’ Den (BBC One)

The Jury: Murder Trial (Channel 4) – WINNER

Love Is Blind (Channel 4)

The Traitors (BBC One)

Current Affairs 

Storyville: Life and Death in Gaza (BBC)

Maternity: Broken Trust (ITV1)

State of Rage (Channel 4) – WINNER

Ukraine’s War: The Other Side (ITV1)

Shortform

Brown Brit (Channel 4)

Peaked (Channel 4)

Quiet Life (BBC Three) – WINNER

Spud (BBC Three)

Factual Entertainment 

In Vogue: The 90s (Vogue Studios, Disney+)

Race Across The World (BBC One)

Rob and Rylan’s Grand Tour (BBC Two) – WINNER

Sort Your Life Out (BBC One)

Children’s Scripted 

CBeebies As You Like It at Shakespeare’s Globe (CBeebies) – WINNER

Horrible Histories (CBBC)

Ready Eddie Go! (Sky Kids)Tweedy & Fluff (Channel 5)  

P&O Cruises Memorable Moment

Bridgerton: The carriage scene, where Colin admits his true feelings for Penelope (Netflix)

Gavin & Stacey: The Finale: Smithy’s wedding, when Mick stands up (BBC One)

Mr Bates Vs The Post Office: Jo Hamilton phones the Horizon helpline (ITV1)

Rivals: Rupert Campbell-Black and Sarah Stratton are caught in a game of naked tennis (Disney+)

Strictly Come Dancing: Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell waltz to You’ll Never Walk Alone (BBC One) – WINNER

Traitors: “Paul isn’t my son … but Ross is!” (BBC One)

Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell’s Strictly waltz scooped the award for P&O Cruises Memorable Moment

Male Performance in a Comedy 

Bilal Hasna, Extraordinary (Disney+)

Danny Dyer, Mr Big Stuff (Sky Comedy) – WINNER

Dylan Thomas-Smith, G’wed (ITV2)

Nabhaan Rizwan, Kaos (Netflix)

Oliver Savell, Changing Ends (ITV1)

Phil Dunning, Smoggie Queens (BBC Three)

Danny Dyer won Male Performance in a Comedy Programme for Mr Big Stuff

Supporting Actor

Ariyon Bakare, Mr Loverman (BBC One) – WINNER

Christopher Chung, Slow Horses (Apple TV+)

Damian Lewis, Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light (BBC One)

Jonathan Pryce, Slow Horses (Apple TV+)

McKinley Belcher III, Eric (Netflix)

Sonny Walker, The Gathering (Channel 4) 

Supporting Actress 

Jessica Gunning, Baby Reindeer (Netflix) – WINNER

Katherine Parkinson, Rivals (Disney+)

Maxine Peake, Say Nothing (Disney+)

Monica Dolan, Sherwood (BBC One)

Nava Mau, Baby Reindeer (Netflix)

Sue Johnston, Truelove (Channel)

The 1% Club lost out for Best Entertainment Show

Entertainment 

The 1% Club (ITV1)

Michael McIntyre’s Big Show (BBC One)

Taskmaster (Channel 4)

Would I Lie To You? (BBC One) – WINNER

Entertainment Performance

Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway (ITV1)

Claudia Winkleman, The Traitors (BBC One)

Graham Norton, The Graham Norton Show (BBC One)

Joe Lycett, Late Night Lycett (Channel 4) – WINNER

Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett, Rob & Romesh Vs (Sky Max)

Stacey Solomon, Sort Your Life Out (BBC One) 

Factual Series 

American Nightmare (Netflix)

Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams on Tour (BBC One)

The Push: Murder on the Cliff (Channel 4)

To Catch a Copper (Channel 4) – WINNER

Live Event Coverage 

D-Day 80: Tribute To The Fallen (BBC One)

Glastonbury 2024 (BBC Two) – WINNER

Last Night of The Proms (BBC Two)

News Coverage 

BBC Breakfast: Post Office Special (BBC One) – WINNER

Channel 4 News: Inside Sednaya (Channel 4)

Channel 4 News: Undercover Inside Reform’s Campaign (Channel 4)

Single Documentary 

Hell Jumper (BBC Two)

Tell Them You Love Me (Sky Documentaries)

Ukraine: Enemy In The Woods (BBC Two) – WINNER

Undercover: Exposing The Far Right (Channel 4)

Soap 

Casualty (BBC One)

Coronation Street (ITV1)

EastEnders (BBC One) – WINNER

Sport 

Euro 2024 (BBC Sport)

Paris 2024 Olympics (BBC Sport) – WINNER

Wimbledon (BBC Sport)

Daytime 

Clive Myrie’s Caribbean Adventure (BBC Two) – WINNER

Loose Women (ITV1)

Morning Live (BBC One)

Richard Osman’s House of Games (BBC Two)

Children’s Non Scripted 

BoosNoo! (Sky Kids)

FYI Investigates: Disability and Me (Sky Kids) – WINNER

Operation Ouch! (CBBC)

Reu and Harper’s Wonder World (Channel 5)

BAFTA Fellowship

Kirsty Wark – WINNER