AJ and Curtis Pritchard
AJ and Curtis Pritchard talk to new about keeping fit, their TV plans and struggles with dyslexia
When we call AJ and Curtis Pritchard for a chat, they are both in a chipper mood – no change there then. They’ve spent the past 11 weeks living with their parents in Stoke-on-trent, along with AJ’S dancer girlfriend Abbie Quinnen – and they’ve all been getting on like a house on fire.
“We’ve got a good routine,” Curtis, 24, who split up with his Love Island girlfriend Maura Higgins in March, tells us. “We get up as a family, do a workout, do some sunbathing and then a bit of baking.”
The brothers have teamed up with the British Dyslexia Association to raise awareness of the condition. They were both diagnosed at a young age and tell us how they still overcome challenges. “I’ll pick a newspaper up, read a paragraph or two out loud and that challenges me each day,” AJ, 25, says.
Here, the pro dancers reveal their thoughts on Love Island being cancelled, whether Strictly should still go ahead and how they have learnt to live with their dyslexia…
Hi guys! What are you missing most from normal life?
AJ: Going back into a TV studio, rather than sitting in my pyjama bottoms on a Zoom chat. I don’t know if my trousers will still fit me any more! Curtis: You’re lucky if you get him with the pyjama bottoms on! We love to perform and be on stage, so I’m missing the tour [AJ Live] we did together. I can’t wait to restart that. It’s what we love to do – perform and entertain people.
Curtis, have you put any weight over these past three months?
Curtis: I think I’m the fittest I’ve ever been, actually.
AJ: We’ve got a morning routine of doing a class every day with the family. The first week we lost the plot.
Curtis: We planned a holiday, didn’t we?
AJ: Yeah, and my holiday was being at home and eating everything for a week. But we’re feeling fit mentally and healthy.
AJ: It’s nearly back! Curtis: You always have a six-pack. AJ: It’s starting to show through now.
Curtis, what do you think about Love Island being cancelled this year?
Curtis: I think under the circumstances it’s absolutely the correct decision. The priority is safety for the whole world right now. I don’t feel it’s the right time to be putting it on, especially for the safety of the contestants and the crew.
It’s a shame because it’s a fantastic programme and I can’t say a bad word about it. Maybe if they play some past series – that could be an idea. I don’t know if I’d watch my series, though.
AJ, what do you make of the reports that Strictly couples will have to isolate together this year?
Curtis: That’ll be a whole new show, won’t it?!
Have either of you got six-packs yet?
AJ: [Laughs] Usually all the professionals get together five weeks before to do the group routines, but I’ve heard they’ll be playing some of the old group dances this year. Hopefully, by the time Strictly will be starting with the contestants, things will be back to normal. I hope it goes ahead because it’s a fantastic show and everyone loves it.
How do you think Abbie would have felt if you had to isolate with your dance partner?
AJ: I think she knows for me it’s a business choice. She’s a performer and knows the way it works.
As dancers you’re perfectionists. Are you your own worst critics?
Both: Yeah!
AJ: You could have a thousand comments and you’ll always remember the one that’s,
“Well he fell over,” or “He didn’t do this good.” It’s all down to that training of perfection and relentless hours in the studio to make something perfect. The biggest learning curve is to forget about it and move on.
Curtis, now you’re single again, are you looking forward to returning to the dating scene?
Curtis: I’ve really been focused on being at home with the family and my career path. I’ve just come out of a relationship and I want to focus on myself, getting our own TV programme, doing some presenting again and getting back to doing the things we love.
You’ve teamed up with the British Dyslexia Association. When did you first realise you were dyslexic?
AJ: I was diagnosed at primary school. I really struggled with reading and writing and it took me a bit longer to digest the information and really process it, which was a positive thing because my parents allowed me to go at my own pace.
It’s important for kids and parents, especially during this time in lockdown when parents see their kids are struggling a bit more, not to put pressure on them and allow them to become the people that they are and give them a bit more time. Curtis: I didn’t want to be labelled as dyslexic when I was younger, if you want the truth. I thought it was something that was this big problem and I was scared of it. But it shaped me into the person I am. It allowed me to work on my creativity. Yes, it took longer if I was writing something and it still does, but it’s about taking it at your own pace.
Our parents let us focus on our creative side and they’ve never pressured or forced us into anything.
Has being dyslexic affected you being on television?
Curtis: We do sometimes struggle to read or say certain things, but it’s made our speech more varied. If we make a blunder we cover it up. I was on stage for a pantomime and I’d learnt the script, but I was talking and I just missed one of my lines and it made me forget the rest of the entire show. We were all laughing and I told the audience straight, “I’ve completely forgotten my script!” And nobody cared. AJ: We were presenting something for
The Prince’s Trust and it was quite an intellectual speech and I was so nervous and anxious. I’m also colour-blind and they put the writing on a coloured piece of paper. It was really funny.
Curtis: I’m not sure if it was meant to be as funny as it was!
Gemma mccartney