Mollie King and AJ Pritchard: Everything You Need To Know
We saw their saucy salsa that sparked romance rumours but what have couple Mollie King and AJ Pritchard been up to since Strictly?
Strictly Come Dancing has become a hotbed of dance partners coupling up, cheating on partners and everything in between! There’s more drama than Eastenders…
Thrusting their hips together in the salsa, playing the romantic in the Argentine tango and spending every minute of every day together during rehearsal… are we really THAT surprised how many couples have fallen indisputably to the strictly curse.
This would never happen on Bake Off…
Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff, Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev and Gemma Atkinson and Gorka Marquez all met on the sequinned set and are still together to this day. N’aw.
But have Mollie King and AJ Pritchard been secretly dating?
Who Is AJ Pritchard?
Born in Stoke-on-Trent, AJ started dancing at the age of 12 teaming up with dance partner Chloe Hewitt.
Representing Britain in competitions all over the world, the duo danced their way to win the National Youth Latin Championships for not one, not two but three consecutive years, as well as taking the trophy for the European Youth Latin Champions.
In 2013, the dancing duo sashayed their way from an audition to the semi finals of Britain’s Got Talent, receiving praise from judges Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden.
AJ made his first appearance on Strictly Come Dancing in 2016, as one of the dancing professionals being partnered up with Olympic artistic gymnast Claudia Fragapane.
[dx_custom_adunit mobile_id=”RTK_gI4i”]
Source/Instagram
The pair placed fourth overall but for his first series, AJ was praised heavily for his innovative choreography.
In his third series in 2018, AJ danced all the way to the final with partner Lauren Steadman; a British Paralympian.
He is confirmed to be returning to the series later this year for his fourth run on the show – much to everyone’s excitement!
Aside from his acting career, AJ has been rather prominent on our TV boxes having taken part in Celebrity Masterchef. Sadly ladies, the boy doesn’t cook as good as he dances and he was booted off after the judges were gravely disappointed by his apple crumble.
Later the same year, the dancing star was partnered up with Louis Smith on celebrity Hunted in aid of Stand Up To Cancer.
The ‘team’ actually split up and went their separate ways but it definitely worked in AJ’s favour as Louis was caught 9 days in with AJ going on to win the show making it the whole two weeks.
His Brother Curtis
Following in his brothers perfectly placed footsteps, Curtis appears as a professional dancer on the Irish version of Dancing with the Stars.
But we’re guessing you know him best from this year’s Love Island.
Entering the Love Island villa, Curtis has coupled up with Amy already becoming ‘half-boyfriend and half-girlfriend’.
[dx_custom_adunit mobile_id=”RTK_zTE9″]
Source/Instagram
The Attack
Just last year, the brothers were subjected to an ‘unprovoked attack’ when they where both on a night out together with friends.
AJ received bruising to his face, arms, body and legs whilst Curtis sustained injuries to his knee which required surgery to be fixed.
Eight men carried out the attack, in a Cheshire night club just after Christmas.
Bravely speaking about the attack, 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,”
Who Is Mollie King?
Mollie was born in Wandsworth, London and starting skiing (yes, skiing) at a young age.
Making it on to the Surbiton High Ski team with fellow pupil Chemmy Alcott (World Cup alpine ski racer) Mollie was a member of the British Children’s Ski Team and won a scholarship to the British Ski Academy.
One of the youngest on the team, Mollie went on to ski for the British Alpine squad.
[dx_custom_adunit mobile_id=”RTK_z40L”]
Source/Instagram
But a girl has to follow her heart and the Strictly Come Dancing star turned down a career in skiing in order to pursue her passion for music.
Best known for being a member of girl band The Saturdays, Mollie has gone on to have 13 top-ten and eight top-ten singles.
In 2018, it was announced that Mollie would co-host a show with Matt Edmondson for BBC Radio 1 for which the Saturday’s singer was nominated for ‘Best New Presenter’ at the Audio and Radio Industry Awards.
Since then, she has been gracing our TV screens as one of the main relief presenters for This Morning.
Having previously dated Lawson member Andy Brown, Mollie King split with him back in 2011 leaving her on the dating market when she entered the Strictly universe.
How Did they Meet?
In 2017, we saw The Saturdays’ Mollie King thrown together with Strictly Come Dancing partner AJ Pritchard and it wasn’t long before the romance rumours started to swirl the Strictly set…
Their rumba to Hopelessly Devoted To You from Grease sparked rumours that there might be a little more than friendship after AJ dipped Mollie down, lingering for a little more than is allowed before the watershed 9pm.
Did they kiss? Didn’t they kiss?
[dx_custom_adunit mobile_id=”RTK_iquJ”]
Well.. an insider revealed just what went on behind the scenes:
“They have been seen kissing, canoodling and even snogging while training. It’s still very early days and they are not officially dating or in a relationship, but there’s a real chemistry and attraction between them.
“Everyone is talking about it backstage and they are desperate for them to become a couple.”
View this post on Instagram
‘Throwback – Christmas Celebrations with @mollieking @ruthlangsford @eamonnholmes …🎄🎁’
Source/Instagram
However, in an interview with her partner AJ on the This Morning couch, Mollie rejected rumours by laughing the idea off…
“No we are not together, promise! We get on so well. I think that’s maybe that’s why there are these rumours.
“We are literally like best friends. We spend so much time together.
“We’re training 12 hours a day and I still love spending every minute with him. It’s mad that we’re not sick of each other!”
But what are friends for if not to add fuel to fire and Mollie’s former bandmate Una Healey did exactly that when she divulged:
“I know her and AJ are friends, but I don’t know about the romance… you never know!”
[dx_custom_adunit mobile_id=”RTK_wiHk”]
Source/Instagram
Adding enough fuel to the fire to make it combust, fellow Strictly dancer Brendan Cole also spilled some beans about a possible romantic connection.
He revealed:
“One evening I went in the boys’ changing room, walked in the door and there was AJ and Mollie.
“I wouldn’t have thought anything of it if they had gone, ‘Hey Brendan, nice to see you.’ But as I walked in the door, they went, ‘Sorry, sorry! Didn’t see you there.’
“Two young single people who get together on the show – it’s great, right?”
[dx_custom_adunit mobile_id=”RTK_DdY1″]
Source/YouTube
What’s Happened Since Strictly?
Pride of Britain Awards
A year after the pair danced their last dance on the ballroom, we saw them reunite at the Pride of Britain awards.
Posting a snap of them together, AJ added:
“Great to catch up with Mollie King at the Pride of Britain Awards #aboutlastnight.”
For the second time in a week, Mollie and AJ reunited behind-the-scenes on Strictly as she visited the show to support him.
Visiting Him On The Strictly Set
Sharing a video on Instagram, Mollie said:
“Guess where I am? Back at Strictly and of course I’m in in the make-up room,”
AJ joked:
“She never changes, never will!”
Mollie also revealed that she was ‘jealous’ of AJ’s new partner Lauren, as she got to dance on the show every week.
AJ and Lauren are pictured below with guest star Avril Lavigne.
[dx_custom_adunit mobile_id=”RTK_ZoXg”]
View this post on Instagram
😝✌🏼🛹… if looks could kill !! @laurensteadmann 😂😂 #girlpower #avrillavigne
Source/Instagram
Speaking Out In Support Of Him After The Attack
After AJ and his brother were attacked, Mollie posted a post of support:”
“So good to watch @aj11ace on @thismorning yesterday talking so openly about what happened to him and @curtispritchard12 over Christmas. Such brave boys, they continue to be such an inspiration. Sending lots of love and get well wishes to the happiest boys, always smiling and making me laugh x”
[dx_custom_adunit mobile_id=”RTK_hW7Y”]
Source/Instagram
Visiting Him On Tour
In March 2019, Mollie posted a pic to her Insta with the caption:
“The best night seeing @aj11ace on his first ever solo tour! I still can’t believe you got me up on stage… 😱🤣🙈 xx”
One thing’s for sure, they certainly haven’t lost touch…
[dx_custom_adunit mobile_id=”RTK_0mO0″]
View this post on Instagram
Source/Instagram
Mollie and Cricketer Stuart Broad
Mollie and Stuart, an England cricketer, reportedly started dating in March 2018 but split just five months later due to busy work schedules.
It seems they reunited earlier this year as they were papped showing each other some pretty public affection.
The on-off pair are currently on full volume – by all appearances – but we’re just rooting for MollAJ? AJmol? Mollie and AJ all the way…
[dx_custom_adunit mobile_id=”RTK_QejT]
Source/The Mirror