AJ Pritchard is back on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer for the 17th series of the show.
His Love Island star brother Curtis is hoping to join him one day and has been very open about his desire to take part in the hit programme. Here's more on the siblings…
Who is AJ Pritchard partnered with on Strictly Come Dancing?
The professional dancer has been paired with 19-year-old social media sensation, Saffron Barker.
Is AJ Pritchard's brother Curtis joining Strictly Come Dancing?
Curtis has made no secret of his desire to once day appear on Strictly Come Dancing like his older sibling.
Although, he is currently a professional dancer on the Irish version of the show he has not ruled out taking part in the UK edition.
Speaking in a recent interview, Curtis said: "I’d never close the door and who knows what the future holds.”
"It’s always been a dream to work with my brother,” the star told OK! Online. “And he’s one of my best friends and one of my idols.”
Who is AJ Pritchard's girlfriend Abbie Quinnen?
The ballroom dancer is currently dating Abbie Quinnen, who he went Instagram official with on July 19, 2019.
In May, The Sun revealed they were dating, with a source explaining: “AJ fell for Abbie the moment he saw her and they’ve been dating for a while now."
They have since enjoyed a romantic date with his brother Curtis and his Love Island beau Maura Higgins, as well as ITV2 stars Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae Hague.
Abbie is training at The Urdang Academy, which is based in Islington, London, according to her Instagram account.
The school offer specialist training in dance and musical theatre to it students.
Why is AJ Pritchard famous?
In 2013, AJ and Chloe appeared on the seventh series of ITV talent show Britain’s Got Talent and wowed the judges and audience alike with their audition.
They made it as far as the fourth semi-final but were eliminated.
In 2015, they won the British Open Youth Latin Championship, that same year they also became European Youth Latin Champions.
Then in 2016 he joined BBC's Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer and competed with Olympic gymnast Claudia Fragapane.
Born Alex Joseph Pritchard in Stoke-on-Trent on November 5, 1994, AJ began dancing at a young age, learning his craft at his mum and dad Adrian and Debi’s dance school, Pritchard’s Dance and Fitness Academy in Cheshire.
He started to dance professionally from the age of 12 and his parents chose a partner for him from their dance school and that was Chloe Hewitt.
The pair of them went on to represent England in competitions around the world.
When was AJ Pritchard and his brother Curtis attacked?
The siblings were attacked while enjoying a night out in Cheshire on December 27, 2018.
AJ was badly bruised but Curtis suffered blurred vision, a split lip and a knee injury which needed surgery so he could dance again.
In an exclusive joint interview with The Sun, AJ said: “Curtis risked his own dancing career to save mine as he threw himself in front of the attackers so they couldn’t get to me.
"He was thinking of both my dancing career with my legs and my TV career with my face.
“He tried to protect me and in doing so saved my life and my legs from danger."
What has AJ said about Curtis' Love Island experience?
Speaking on Lorraine on July 4, 2019, AJ opened up about it being "hard" watching his brother on TV.
The dancer defended his brother for "wearing his heart on his sleeve" and being "so honest" after viewers lashed out at his behaviour towards Amy.
He said: "From the outside we don't always see what's happening inside the villa."
Also, AJ encouraged their relationship, expressing a hope for them to work things out and for the girls to "stop blocking Amy" and let Curtis speak to her.
He told Lorraine that if he could speak to his brother he would tell him: "Stick to what you're doing.
"Stick to your heart. As we can see on TV he was a bit upset last night.
"It was difficult because I just wanted to give him a hug."
Who is AJ's brother Curtis Pritchard? Is he famous already?
Actually, yes, he's pretty well known in Ireland.
Just like his big bro, Curtis, 23, is a professional dancer and choreographer.
Although he's not on Strictly Come Dancing here in the UK, he is on the Irish equivalent Dancing With The Stars — which is how he met ex-girlfriend Emily Barker.
Thanks to his time on Dancing With The Stars, Curtis has already had a taste of fame and amassed quite the following – as many as 44.1k Instagram followers before even setting foot in the villa.
Speaking of Instagram, the dancer already followed a couple of his new housemates before he entered the Love Island villa and coupled up with Amy Hart.
AJ shared a video of their mum Debi crying "happy tears" after Curtis remained coupled up with Amy during the explosive reunion post Casa Amor.
When did AJ Pritchard join Strictly Come Dancing?
At the tender age of 22, after ten years in the world of dance, AJ joined the roster of Strictly Come Dancing professionals.
He joined the show in 2016, and for his first time on the programme, he was paired with gymnast Claudia Fragapane.
They came fourth, just missing out on the final.
In 2017, he was paired with The Saturday's Mollie King; then he partnered Paralympian Lauren Steadman in 2018.
Did AJ Pritchard date Mollie King?
Mollie and AJ were paired up for the 2017 series of Strictly and immediately hit it off.
Rumours began when they spent a cosy night together watching the launch show.
Just a fortnight into the show they shared a very intimate celebratory hug and strolled arm-in-arm on a walk out together.
The duo are inseparable, often seen grinning in each other's company, and Strictly judges have commented on their "believable chemistry" as well as asking if they're dating.
Mollie's Saturdays band mate Una Healy also dropped a huge hint romance was on the cards.
The Sun's Bizarre column revealed that the pair were caught snogging during training for the show, with their secret romance the talk of backstage.
Neither of the pair have ever said they are dating and AJ came out to again state they are not seeing each other.
Speaking to Metro he said: "No, we're not an item, but we're friends for life."
However, on February 13, 2018 former Strictly pro Brendan Cole fuelled the speculation further by telling The Sun that they DID get together on the show.
Though they opted to remain friends instead of getting into a relationship.
Did AJ Pritchard date Lauren Steadman?
AJ and Lauren fuelled dating rumours during the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour after the judges praised their "romantic" performances.
The pair appeared to blush and squirm after judge Darcey Bussell commented on their chemistry.
AJ said about his partner: “I am very protective of Lauren because we have worked so close together.
“There are different things that she will talk about in training that she would never talk about on camera.
“It’s for that reason that we have grown so close together and we will be friends for life and who knows in the future….
“You never know what is going to happen.”
What time is Strictly Come Dancing 2019 on?
Strictly Come Dancing returned for its 17th series on BBC One on September 7, 2019.
However, the show kicked off with the red carpet launch on Monday, August 26, 2019.
The live shows begin on Saturday, September 21, with the results airing the following day on Sundays.
Strictly continues on BBC One on 7pm and you can get the FULL celebrity line-up here.
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