AJ Pritchard’s ‘celeb romances – caught with Mollie King and life-changing Lauren Steadman’
I’m A Celebrity star AJ Pritchard has been linked to several showbiz beauties in the past, including his Strictly partners Mollie King and Lauren Steadman
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These days I’m A Celebrity star AJ Pritchard is loved-up with girlfriend and fellow dancer Abbie Quinnen.
The couple met in 2018 when she auditioned for his Get on the Floor live tour, and will mark their two year anniversary early next year.
But before settling down and moving Abby, 23, into his west London flat, former Strictly star AJ, 26, was linked to several showbiz beauties.
From allegedly being busted backstage with Mollie King by Strictly pro Brendan Cole to how paralympian Lauren Steadmen changed his life, here’s a look back at the ladies he’s been linked to…
Lauren Steadman
When it comes to Strictly Come Dancing, it’s not unusual for passionate affairs to bloom between the pro dancers and their celeb partners.
And the rumour mill was in full force in 2018 when AJ was partnered with Paralympian Lauren Steadman, 27, who won silver in the Paratriathlon in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016.
Both remained coy over rumours – but after being eliminated in the semi-finals, AJ hinted he would be open to romance, revealing he had got to see a side of Lauren that few others do.
He told The Mirror: “I am very protective of her because we have worked so closely 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.”
Keeping fans guessing, Lauren was also open with her adoration of AJ, praising his “squishy and marshmallow-like” interior live on TV.
“I’ve got a lot of resilience and determination but I’ve never met somebody quite like you,” she gushed.
“As a pair I didn’t think we would be partnered and I’m so grateful I got you as a partner, words can’t explain how much I appreciate it.”
And the partnership proved to be life-changing for AJ, with the star revealing that their time together had completely changed the way he sees everything.
Of his plans for the future, he told Digital Spy: “After being with Lauren, just always have a positive outlook on life.
“Everything is great, I’m fit and healthy… I want to take each day as a positive.”
Mollie King
Back in 2017, AJ was paired with chart topping pop star Mollie King, 33, of The Saturdays when Strictly kicked off its 15th season.
With their romantic routines and apparent kissing on the dance floor, it didn’t take long for tongues to start wagging.
While the pair have always refused to say if they did or didn’t date – fellow Strictly pro Brendan Cole was only too happy to weigh in, claiming he busted them backstage.
“One evening I went in the boys’ changing room, walked in the door and there were AJ and Mollie,” he told Closer magazine.
“I wouldn’t have thought anything of it if they had gone, ‘Hey, Brendan, nice to see you’. But when 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?”
Meanwhile, AJ’s dad Adrian compared them to an ‘old married couple’, revealing they’d been enjoying strolls in the park and meals out.
Adrian, a dance pro himself who attended the live shows, told The Mirror at the time: “AJ and Mollie are having a lot of fun. They’ve really bonded.
“AJ has told me Mollie is great to be with. She works very hard and she has a great personality.
“Anybody would like Mollie, she is a very beautiful lady, she has a great personality – what is there not to like? They are spending more time with each other than a married couple would do.
“They are going for coffees together and strolls in the parks in London whenever they have breaks from the training.”
Asked if his son and Mollie – who used to date model David Gandy, 37 – were more than friends, Adrian refused to rule it out.
“People have their opinions about whether they are now an item – you will have to ask AJ about that. But I think she’s great. I have met Mollie after every show. She is very nice, very easy to talk to.”
Want all the latest gossip straight from the jungle? Head on over to Mirror Online’s dedicated I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here’s Facebook page here.
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