Curtis Pritchard’s brother AJ reveals their secret debt battle after Strictly and Love Island fame
CURTIS Pritchard’s brother AJ has revealed their secret financial woes after Strictly and Love Island fame.
Ex-Strictly dancer AJ, 30, found himself in debt during the Covid pandemic, after his dance tours were suddenly cancelled.
AJ said he and his All Stars brother Curtis, 28, lost a pretty penny when they were landed with a VAT bill.
The I’m A Celeb star also agreed to pay all of the dancers that were booked for the tour – despite not giving himself or Curtis a salary.
“We had a company where we were running our own tour and the tour was literally cut short,” AJ told the Mail.
“We paid all of our dancers because personally I felt like that was the right thing to do and we ended up with a VAT bill, which came out of our own pocket.”
AJ, who starred on the BBC dance competition from 2016 to 2019, admitted people often have misconceptions that he’s a “millionaire” – but said his Strictly Come Dancing salary after taxes was “not even close”.
Curtis, who is currently on All Stars following his split from girlfriend Sophie Sheridan, has appeared on Love Island three times now.
While AJ has also had his fair share of reality TV appearances – with his stint on I’m A Celebrity in 2020.
He also starred on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, and made a brief cameo in Hollyoaks with Curtis.
AJ said: “People come out of these shows and do get paid a good amount of money. There’s definitely a rollercoaster on the money side [because it doesn’t last].”
The ballroom dancer and Love Island star has now co-founded Fint Invest, a financial investment app and company.
The brothers are hoping to educate people on spending, with AJ saying: “Curtis came out of the villa [in 2019], he may have spent a bit too much money.”
The star admitted it can be a struggle to have consistent work lined up – but said he has always been careful with money and has various portfolios, after having invested his “very first paycheck” on Strictly.
Curtis’ sticky break-up
Curtis returned to our screen last week and is currently leaving the All Stars ladies swooning.
The TV star is coupled up with Turkish actress Ekin-Su.
But he has come under fire over the “convenient timing” of his most recent break up – just weeks before being cast on Love Island All Stars.
Curtis was dating West End star Sophie Sheridan for two years before their abrupt split last year.
Now friends of the former couple claim Curtis was eyeing up a spot on the ITV2 show soon after dumping heartbroken Sophie.
After Curtis defended his decision, a friend of Curtis’s ex told The Sun: “Sophie feels extremely hurt and disappointed about the details of their relationship he’s chosen to share as recollections may vary.
“They broke up in October and they haven’t spoken since.
“He knew the show was coming up so the timing was all very convenient.”
Curtis broke up with Sophie just before launching his Come What May tour with his Strictly star brother AJ Curtis on September 20, 2024.
It’s understood potential contestants for the new series were cast in the weeks after his relationship ended.
A TV source told The Sun: “Love Island producers don’t approach stars in relationships.”