AJ Pritchard has shared why he is backing Rose Ayling-Ellis to win this year’s Strictly Come Dancing glitterball trophy as she charges her way into the final.
The former professional dancer has been avidly keeping up with the popular BBC One dance competition this year as he continues to support his fellow dancers on the show from the comfort of his sofa.
While millions of viewers up and down the country tune in for the live finals this week, the 27-year-old has confessed why he thinks the EastEnders actress will be crowned the winner, and it’s not because of her impressive dance moves.
As she prepares to fight it out to take home the beloved trophy, the ballroom dancer has dished out some last-minute advice just days away from the live final.
In an exclusive chat with the Daily Star in conjunction with William Hill, the blonde bombshell shared how strange it has been to watch the show from a viewer’s point of view.
He admitted: “It’s quite nice to be on this side. We sat down [and got to] appreciate the hair, the makeup, the costume that the pros, the celebs wear and the whole kind of show that it is that the country loves.
“So, it’s really to be on that side and it gives me time to do all the projects that I want to do and be able to do other TV shows that I haven’t been able to do in the past. So, I’ve been really enjoying it this year.
“It’s been really nice because last year I was in the [I’m A Celebrity] castle so I wasn’t able to keep up with the journey and this year I’ve been able to watch it and see the celebrities progress when the move on and just enjoying the show for what it is [in] that build up towards Christmas.”
(Image: BBC)
When he was asked who he is backing to take home the 2021 glitterball trophy, AJ confidently replied that Rose was his frontrunner for this series.
He confessed: “Right now, clean score, it has to still be Rose. I feel like that number that she did when the silence hit, you can’t remove that emotion.
“The other thing with Rose is, is that when you watch her you feel connected to her. I feel like I know Rose the same way that her mum knows Rose.
“Her family know her because she just bursts out with this information. She’s got this kind of free-flowing energy and it’s like ‘I’m the same on TV and off TV’ it’s the same personality and it was really nice to see that.
“I feel like happy is the best way to describe her,” he added.
(Image: BBC / Guy Levy)
As he thought about what special quality she had over her other competitors, the star revealed her relationship with the audience and the way she incorporates her raw emotions into the dance is what puts her one peg above the rest.
AJ recalled: “I feel like some of the other people aren’t like that. Like with Tom Fletcher, we didn’t see the emotion in the dances and unfortunately, he went home and it’s the same with Rhys [Stephenson].
“He does, technically, a great performance every single week, it’s great, but I don’t see the emotion, I don’t see that reason why I want to pick up the phone and vote to see him again.”
AJ’s remarks were proven to be true as Rhys and his partner Nancy were voted out of the competition on Sunday night.
AJ Pritchard is set to perform alongside his brother Curtis in the pantomime production of Cinderella from Saturday 4 December 2021 to Sunday 9 January 2022 at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.
Strictly Come Dancing live final will air on BBC One at 7pm on December 18
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
