Chris McCausland to Deliver Channel 4's Alternative Christmas Message Highlighting Disability Employment Challenges

Image: Channel 4 Press

By Jon Donnis

Comedian and Strictly Come Dancing winner Chris McCausland will deliver this year's Channel 4 Alternative Christmas Message, airing at 4:50 PM on Christmas Day. In his speech, Chris will call on employers to tackle discrimination against disabled people and push for improvements to the government's Access to Work scheme, which helps fund workplace support and technology for disabled employees.

Chris, who lost his sight in his twenties, highlights the stark reality that disabled people make up nearly a quarter of the working-age population but face disproportionately high unemployment rates. Half of all disabled people of working age are out of work, which is double the national average, and for blind and partially sighted people, the numbers are even more troubling, with 75 percent unemployed.

Reflecting on his recent win on Strictly, Chris says he wants to challenge the way disabled people are underestimated. He describes disabled people as some of the most resilient, creative, and determined individuals you could ever meet and believes that strength and adaptability make them valuable additions to any workplace. He also jokes that they are even capable of winning national dance competitions.

A key part of his message focuses on delays within the Access to Work scheme, which provides funding for workplace adjustments and tools to help disabled employees succeed. While the program is essential, Chris says the average 43-day wait for support is far too long and often discourages employers from hiring disabled workers in the first place. He wants to see the process streamlined so support is available in less than four weeks, which would allow disabled employees to focus on their jobs without unnecessary delays that can strip away their confidence and purpose.

Channel 4's Alternative Christmas Message has provided a thought-provoking counterpoint to the King's speech since 1993. Over the years, it has featured a wide range of presenters, from whistle-blower Edward Snowden and Afghan war veteran Major Andrew Stockton to Grenfell Tower survivors and AI-generated speakers. Last year, Stephen Fry addressed the rise in anti-Semitism.

This year's Alternative Christmas Message was commissioned by Timothy Hancock and Cimran Shah for Channel 4 and produced by October Films, with Neil Breakwell as Executive Producer, Holly Lawrence as Production Manager, Neil Bonner directing, and Alfie Turner producing.

Chris McCausland's heartfelt and timely message is expected to spark important conversations about inclusion and accessibility and bring attention to the need for meaningful change in the way disabled people are supported in the workplace.