AJ Pritchard: Strictly Exit, Girlfriend, and What He’s Doing Now

Few British TV dancers have pivoted as decisively as AJ Pritchard. After four years as a professional on Strictly Come Dancing, he walked away from the ballroom in 2020 to chase a very different spotlight — and the years since have packed in a jungle stint, a reality competition, and an engagement that stopped his followers’ scrolls. Here’s what happened to the man who swapped sequins for survival shows.

Born: 5 November 1994 ·
Occupation: Dancer, choreographer, presenter ·
Partner: Abbie Quinnen ·
Known for: Strictly Come Dancing ·
Years active: 2013–present

Six facts that trace a career that began on competition floors and expanded into television, reality shows, and digital influence.

What has happened to AJ Pritchard?

Recent career moves

• Left Strictly Come Dancing in March 2020 to pursue presenting (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia))
• Competed on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2020, finishing in the middle of the pack (Marie Curie (UK charity podcast))
• Took part in The Challenge UK in 2023, a physical reality competition (Wikipedia)

According to a profile by Donaheys (dance events and training platform), Pritchard started dancing competitively at age 12 and went on to win European and British national championships before joining Strictly. The BBC (UK public broadcaster) via It Takes Two described those championship wins as the foundation for his television career.

Personal milestones

• Proposed to long-term girlfriend Abbie Quinnen in February 2024, sharing the news on Instagram with the caption “SHE SAID YES !”
• The couple has been together since 2021 and regularly posts about their relationship
• His brother Curtis Pritchard is also a professional dancer who appeared on Love Island

The implication: Pritchard has built a personal brand that leans heavily into public visibility — from dance floors to jungle camps to engagement announcements, each chapter is played out in full view of his followers.

Why did AJ Pritchard leave Strictly?

Official statement

• Announced his departure on 26 March 2020 (Wikipedia)
• Stated he wanted to pursue opportunities in television presenting (Wikipedia)
• The BBC Strictly family publicly wished him well via their official Facebook page (BBC Strictly official account)

Future ambitions

• According to an AOL (news and media platform) report, he left Strictly specifically to focus on television presenting — a goal he had voiced during his final series
• Described by Marie Curie (UK charity podcast) in 2024 as a “dancer, choreographer and presenter”, reflecting how his professional identity has shifted
• Has not ruled out returning to competitive dance but has focused on screen-based work since leaving

The pattern: Pritchard’s post-Strictly strategy prioritises breadth over depth — he has sampled multiple formats (reality competitions, presenting, social media) rather than doubling down on a single lane.

Has AJ Pritchard got a partner?

Relationship timeline

• In a relationship with fitness influencer and model Abbie Quinnen since 2021
• Became engaged in February 2024 — Pritchard posted a photo of the proposal on Instagram with the caption “SHE SAID YES !”
• The couple live together in the UK and frequently appear on each other’s social media channels

Public appearances

• The pair have attended multiple red-carpet events together since going public
• Quinnen has appeared in Pritchard’s YouTube content and dance workshop promotional material
• Both maintain active Instagram presences, with Quinnen amassing over 200k followers on her own account

Why this matters: Pritchard’s relationship has become a visible part of his personal brand — the engagement generated significant engagement across social platforms, reinforcing his status as an influencer as much as a dancer.

What’s AJ Pritchard doing now?

Current projects

• Runs dance workshops and masterclasses across the UK, often partnering with Donaheys (dance events and training platform)
• Makes paid personal appearances at events and corporate functions
• Continues to develop presenting skills with an eye on television and digital formats
• Has not signed with any major broadcaster as a permanent presenter, keeping his options open

Social media presence

• Active on Instagram as @aj11ace with over 400,000 followers
• Posts a mix of personal content, dance clips, and sponsored partnerships
• Runs a presence on YouTube where he shares behind-the-scenes and lifestyle content
• His follower count has grown steadily since his Strictly days, driven by reality TV appearances and his engagement

The catch: Social media provides steady income and audience connection, but it also keeps Pritchard in the influencer lane rather than the mainstream presenting career he originally set out for.

Who is AJ Pritchard?

Early life and dance career

• Born Alex Joseph Pritchard on 5 November 1994 in Crewe, Cheshire, England (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia))
• Started dancing competitively at age 12 (Donaheys (dance events and training platform))
• Won European and British national championships before entering television (BBC (UK public broadcaster) via It Takes Two)
• Auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent in 2013 as part of a dance duo with his brother Curtis Pritchard

Rise to fame

• Joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2016 as the youngest male professional in the show’s history (Wikipedia)
• His debut series partnered him with gymnast Claudia Fragapane — they finished 4th (Strictly Come Dancing Wiki (fan encyclopedia))
• In 2017, partnered with singer Mollie King — finished 5th (Wikipedia)
• In 2018, partnered with Paralympian Lauren Steadman — finished 5th (Wikipedia)
• In 2019, partnered with YouTuber Saffron Barker — finished 6th (Wikipedia)

The trajectory from competitive dancer to television personality has been deliberate and visible.

Career timeline

Five key moments that map Pritchard’s transition from competitive dancer to television personality.

The pattern: Each move expanded his audience beyond the dance floor, from reality TV to social media.

What we know and what’s unclear

What’s known

• Pritchard left Strictly in 2019/2020 to pursue presenting and other opportunities (Wikipedia)
• He competed on I’m a Celebrity in 2020 and The Challenge UK in 2023 (Wikipedia)
• He is engaged to Abbie Quinnen as of February 2024 (Instagram)
• He began dancing at age 12 and won national and European titles as a junior (BBC (UK public broadcaster) via It Takes Two)

What’s unclear

• Exact net worth — estimates vary widely and none are independently verified (Wikipedia)
• Whether he will land a permanent presenting role on television
• His future participation in competitive dance or reality TV
• The full extent of his earnings from social media and brand partnerships

These knowns and unknowns frame his current career phase: high visibility but incomplete conversion to mainstream presenting.

In his own words and from the archive

“SHE SAID YES !”

— AJ Pritchard, announcing his engagement to Abbie Quinnen via Instagram, February 2024

“Following AJ Pritchard’s announcement today, the entire Strictly family would like to wish him the very best for the future.”

— BBC Strictly Come Dancing official Facebook page, March 2020 (BBC Strictly official account)

For a dancer who started competing at 12 and won European titles before stepping onto the Strictly floor, Pritchard’s post-2020 career represents a deliberate shift away from competitive dance. He has swapped trophies for Instagram likes, jungle trials for workshop fees. For the UK reality TV ecosystem, the choice is clear: Pritchard bets on breadth — and so far, the audience has kept watching.

For those wanting a deeper dive into his background, full biography and Strictly career offers comprehensive details on his dance journey and personal life.

Frequently asked questions

These answers cover the most common inquiries about AJ Pritchard’s life and career.