AJ Pritchard admits he felt like a "public servant" on Strictly Come Dancing as he revealed his salary. The professional dancer, 29, appeared on the BBC dance competition for three years between 2016 and 2019. He later announced his exit as he confirmed he would be looking for more telly work .
Throughout his time on the programme, Stoke-on-Trent-born AJ was partnered with Claudia Fragapane, singer Mollie King, Lauren Steadman and Saffron Barker. However, he failed to reach the final with his dance partners. During his stint on the show, he was often referred to as Strictly's bridesmaid as he made it to the semi-final during his first three seasons.
Now, he has opened up about the salary he received after many allegedly speculated that he had become a millionaire. Speaking on the Secure The Insecure podcast, AJ, who is currently working with his brother Curtis on their Come What May dance show said: "Our parents, friends, were like, 'oh his first year of Strictly, well, he's a millionaire straight away'. As I, we get paid a favoured nation's wage.
" He went on to add: "If we work out the hours that we'd work from God knows what to God knows when. It's not that good when somebody said they think you're a millionaire. Well, it would take me 25 years to get to that, them sort of numbers.
" But while it appeared he was living his best life, AJ has opened up about the toll being on Strictly took on him. He said: "On Strictly, I always thought about my job as being a public servant i.