AJ Pritchard reveals Curtis struggled with debt after he ‘spent too much’ following Love Island

Despite booking gigs ranging from Strictly Come Dancing to *that* Hollyoaks cameo, AJ Pritchard revealed that he and his brother Curtis are experiencing some debt issues.

We were first introduced to Curtis when he appeared on Love Island season 5 in 2019, but he has since popped up in Dancing with the Stars, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, Celebs Go Dating, and The Challenge. The man is getting booked, whether we like it or not.

Meanwhile, AJ Pritchard has been a staple of Strictly Come Dancing since 2016 whilst also working on Britain’s Got Talent, Celebrity MasterChef, Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, and I’m A Celeb.

But despite their solid bank of work, and that’s not including brand deals and promotional posts, it seems their bright exteriors are hiding some very real and relatable issues.

Curtis and AJ Pritchard’s debt started during Covid

In a new interview with the MailOnline, AJ opened up about his money troubles amid his brother Curtis shooting ANOTHER shot on Love Island All Stars. According to him, their money troubles started during the COVID-19 pandemic when they were forced to shut down their touring dance show.

“We paid all of our dancers because, personally, I felt like that was the right thing to do. We ended up with a VAT bill which came out of our own pocket,” he said. “We didn’t get paid, myself or Curtis, but we paid all of our dancers. It’s a hard decision to be made, but that’s what it is when you are running your own company.”

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Despite appearing on Strictly for four years, AJ said that after paying VAT and taxes he was left with a sum of money quite different to what many people would expect.

“I think a lot of people expect you to go on to Strictly or Love Island and instantly be a millionaire. Once you’ve paid your tax and your VAT, and if you’re a limited company, that’s not even close,” he added.

He described appearing in reality TV as a “rollercoaster” that comes to a screeching halt when you realise the money doesn’t last and you have to keep working to maintain your lifestyle.

AJ further noted: “I did Strictly because it was my dream rather than for the money. I love to dance and love to perform and be on stage. Curt came out of the villa [for the first time in 2019], he may have spent a bit too much money and then you have to bring it all back and think about it and really educate yourself of understanding what goes in and what comes out.”

AJ also took the time to offer advice to his fellow reality TV stars, suggesting that they work to have a “profession behind them like myself and Curt” as professional dancers.

They’ve set up their own financial investment company

To help his own money troubles and “educate” other people on financial security, AJ and Curtis have set up a financial investment company called FINT with the hopes of getting a “government grant” to further the project.

He explained: “I’m always very OCD. I’m very good with my money and my numbers because that’s kind of the way my brain works. Curtis is very creative. But if you’re not taught the knowledge of investing and how to understand even what a simple paycheck is these days, let’s just add it into a national curriculum.

“It’s not hard, if we invested in kids when we were younger about their fitness, their health, their finances, it would definitely save the Government a lot of money in the future.”

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Featured image credit: Curtis Pritchard/AJ Pritchard