AJ Pritchard Calls for More British Talent on BBC

 has praised Come Dancing for its pro dancer cull as he called on the to champion British talent. 

Earlier this year, the show overhauled the professional lineup, with five dancers departing, including Venezuelan–American Karen Haeur, Spaniard Gorka Márquez, Ukrainian , Russian  and Cypriot Michelle Tsiakkas.

It was said that the major overhaul was to 'refresh the show and boost viewership among younger audiences'.

Now, AJ, who appeared in four series of the dance competition between 2016 and 2019, has commended the BBC for their 'brutal axes' during a chat with the Daily Mail alongside his brother Curtis.

The dancer, 31, said: 'I was away when somebody sent me some of the links about people that were, let's say, thinned out the herd, and I was like, "whoa! They really went for it, didn't they?"

'But at the same time, I think one thing that's really important for a show like Strictly is to really benefit the British dancers.'

He continued: 'There are so many great British professionals who can really use this opportunity to showcase what they can do.

'I think maybe in the past, people have been a bit chill, a bit playing it safe. I never play it safe. 

'Every single year, whether it be choreography, lifts, tricks, like, that's what makes a routine exciting, and that's what makes the audience be like, we really like this couple.'

Despite leaving the show six years ago, AJ never ruled out a return, previously revealing that he'd like to make a comeback as a judge if the opportunity came his way.

In the meantime, he's trying his luck across the pond Dancing With The Stars. 

Dancing With The Stars: The Pros will follow dancers auditioning to become one of the professional dancers on the upcoming series of the main show, with 12 contestants vying for a contract as a professional dancer on the Dancing With The Stars cast. 

Although if that doesn't work out, AJ has his eyes set on Strictly hosts and Claudia Winkelman's jobs, after they stepped down from their presenting duties after more than 20 years.

Teasing a return to the show, AJ said: 'My diary, technically, in the second half of the year is not too jam-packed.

'I love dancing. Like, I am always going to be on the TV doing different experiences and different dance shows. 

'The one thing that I always like to live my life by is always be ready. So I'm always physically fit, mentally fit, and always pushing myself.

'Through January and February, I was doing two, three dance classes at Pineapple (dance studio) a week, doing contemporary, jazz, Latin, ballroom, because I always like to keep myself at the best that I can be.'

'You could go back to make the final, your a serial semi-finalist, you were,' Curtis quipped. 

AJ made the semi-finals of the show three times during his four-year stint.

He finished in fourth place with Claudia Fragapane in 2016, fifth with Mollie King in 2017, ad fifth with Lauren Steadman in 2018. 

This week, it was reported that

It's a race against time as the show is set to kick off in five months with its 24th series. 

A spokesperson for Strictly Come Dancing told The Daily Mail: 'Plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be confirmed in due course.'