AJ Pritchard has admitted that he is aiming to create a new Ant and Dec-style partnership with his brother Curtis now that he has left Strictly Come Dancing.
The 25-year-old announced on Friday that he has quit the BBC dance show after four years in order to pursue a new career as a TV presenter.
Curtis is also a dancer and featured on the Irish version of Dancing with the Stars but gained fame in the UK last year when he appeared as a contestant on ITV2's Love Island.
"We would love to be that presenting duo, like [Ant and Dec]," AJ told The Sun. "We want to bring our brand - that all-singing, all-dancing Saturday night style of family entertainment, a bit like Bruce Forsyth.
"I want to have my own brand and there were things I couldn't do because of the Strictly brand and the time involved. It took up six months of my life, some days I would work 18-hour days because I was dancing and choreographing. I didn't have a life and I wanted to be able to do more. I want to show people what I'm about - not just, 'Here's my celebrity partner this year that I'm going to showcase'.
"I did have to turn down things in the past, which I was upset about sometimes, but I understood I was part of Strictly Come Dancing. Now I am going to pursue things I didn't have the time for. It's the right move. It's a relief to finally quit. If I didn't further my development now, while at my peak mental well-being, I would regret it."
During his time on Strictly, AJ managed a best finish of fourth place in 2016 with celeb partner Claudia Fragapane.
Neil Wilkes
Follow us on Bluesky or on X/Twitter and like us on Facebook for the latest entertainment news alerts.
Media Mole's Lowest Ever Sky Offer: Get Sky Essential, Sky Stream & Netflix for just £15 a month + £0 upfront fee for 24 months!
Prices may change during this period. Ends March 19, 2025
