Strictly Come Dancing picked up an award at the 2025 TV BAFTAs thanks to a public vote after being snubbed in other categories but Chris McCausland was noticeable by his absence

Chris McCausland left it to Dianne Buswell to collect another honour(Image: BBC/Guy Levy)

Winner Chris McCausland shared why he didn’t attend the BAFTAs – and it was nothing to do with being convinced Gavin & Stacey would win!

The drama surrounding Strictly Come Dancing did not appear to put off the public who voted Dianne Buswell and Chris’ waltz to You’ll Never Walk Alone as the most memorable moment in TV. But he wasn’t there to pick up the award, leaving his partner to do the honours.

Dianne was at the ceremony to pick up the gong – which recognised a special dance routine with her celebrity partner, blind comedian Chris.

The winning couple’s “blackout” dance, which went viral on social media, saw him place his hands over her eyes as the room faded to black, mimicking his everyday experience.

When the lights returned, the 47-year-old was spinning around with Dianne on his shoulders as pyrotechnics flared in the background.

On stage last night, she gushed: “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.”

They won for their incredible waltz

Chris wasn’t there for his big moment and explained why. He was thrilled to take home the trophy – and teased that the pair could fall out if they both don’t get one! Taking to Instagram, he told his followers why we was absent and couldn’t accept the BAFTA.

He said in a video: “We only went and won a BAFTA! I’m very proud of her representing the two of us. Her speech was amazing. I’m actually in Warrington, I’ve had two shows here today and these are the shows I cancelled to do Strictly…. I couldn’t exactly cancel a second time to go to the BAFTAs, could I?

“And to be honest I thought Gavin & Stacey could win! Thank you so much for voting. I just hope we get two of them or me and Dianne are going to fall out trying to share that thing aren’t we!” The clip, filmed in the theatre, ended with cheers from the team.

The moment won over scenes that aired on The Traitors, Rivals, Bridgerton, Gavin and Stacey and Mr Bates vs The Post Office. Strictly is normally up for the Best Entertainment Programme but has been snubbed this year for the first time ever in the show’s history.

Instead, the Entertainment Programme is made up of nominees The 1% Club (ITV1), Michael McIntyre’s Big Show ( BBC One), Taskmaster ( Channel 4 ) and Would I Lie To You? (BBC One).

Last year, Amanda Abbington, 51, alleged she was subjected to “inappropriate, mean, nasty bullying” in a “toxic environment” while she was a contestant on Strictly in 2023. The BBC upheld “some, but not all” of the allegations made by Amanda about her dance partner Giovanni Pernice – who has always denied the accusations.

The Bafta TV Awards show began in Traitors style with Alan Cumming wearing the well-known dark cloak in the Scottish Highlands castle. Cumming, who described himself as the “devilishly handsome” host of the US Traitors, was summoned to the Traitor turret and asked to host the Bafta TV Awards this year.