Chris McCausland to deliver Channel 4's Alternative Christmas Message
- Chris McCausland will call for an end for discrimination against disabled people in Channel 4's Alternative Christmas Message
- His five minute speech will be broadcast on Christmas Day at 4:50pm
This year's Alternative Christmas Message on Channel 4 will be presented by Chris McCausland.
The annual programme, which has been running since 1993, serves as an alternative to the traditional festive message delivered by the Royal Family on ITV and the BBC.
The blind comedian will use the five-minute slot to deliver an impassioned appeal to call for an end to discrimination against disabled people.
He also calls for improvements to the government's Access to Work grant, which covers costs for employing disabled people.
He will speak about the delays that people face when using Access to Work, explaining that the wait for funding can "strip away" the "confidence, dignity, and purpose" of disabled people.
McCausland - who earlier this month won Strictly Come Dancing - says: "Disabled people are often some of the most resilient, creative and determined people you will ever likely meet. We have to be in daily life and that makes us valuable people to have on the team. We can even win national dance competitions, just saying!"
The speech will begin with a metaphor about mince pies. "I don't care if they're the posh ones or the cheap ones, I don't care if they're the big ones or those tiny little dinky ones, whether it's got a solid top or a lattice crown. I will never discriminate against any sort of mince pie, all of them are equal to me and will no doubt meet the same undignified end as I try and fit it all in my mouth in one go."
The Alternative Christmas Message will air on Channel 4 at 4.50pm on Christmas Day.