Strictly's AJ Pritchard break silence after brutal club attack and it's heartbreaking
AJ and his brother Curtis were taken to hospital
Strictly Come Dancing fans were left angry and heartbroken over the news that dancers AJ Pritchard and his brother Curtis were beaten up in an attack while on a night out last week.
It is being reported that eight people beat up AJ and Curtis in the awful attack. Curtis, who was due to return to Ireland for Dancing With The Stars, had to undergo an emergency operation on his knee, and both boys suffered bruising on their faces.
Now, the pair have now spoken out about what happened and the injuries they've endured. Speaking to a national newspaper on New Year's Eve, AJ revealed that Curtis jumped in front of him to try and protect him from the attackers, saying, "Curtis risked his own dancing career to save mine as he threw himself in front of the attackers so they couldn’t get to me.
"He was thinking of both my dancing career with my legs and my TV career with my face. He tried to protect me and in doing so saved my life and my legs from danger.
"I soon realised there were no winners in this scenario. I just wanted us both to come out alive. I care more about Curtis than I do about selfies and looking good."
Curtis then added, "It could have been fatal" before explaining, "There were about eight lads on two of us and we’re not fighters. We’re not there for a fight. We don’t want to cause trouble.
"We were just minding our own business, then all of a sudden there was a load of lads around us. I just felt a hard, violent push on my left side, as if someone had lunged at me, and that’s when it all kicked off."
Security staff then moved in and AJ was able to drag Curtis off the dancefloor to safety. Curtis is still recovering from surgery and has sadly pulled out of Dancing With The Stars. Heartbreakingly, he said, "I don’t know what I’ll do if I can’t dance again.
Check out which TV stars you didn't know were related:
Jamie Lomax and Charley Webb
Former Hollyoaks actor Jamie Lomas, who played bad boy Warren Fox in the soap, is the brother of Emmerdale star Charley Webb.
AJ's fellow Strictly stars were outraged at the horrible news about the attack. Many took to Instagram to express their anger and send their best wishes to the brothers.
Aljaz Skorjanec wrote, 'So upset by the news about @Aj11Ace and @CurtisPritchard!! Two lovely guys that mean no harm to anyone ever!! I can not believe it. To the thugs that did that.. shall we dance???? #fuming'.
While Giovanni Pernice added, "Wtf is wrong with this people ????? Guys I’m so sorry @CurtisPritchard @Aj11Ace I’m with you all the way !! Disgusting !!!"
AJ's 2018 partner Lauren Steadman then added, 'Hoping my dance partner will get his smile back soon @aj11ace wishing both AJ and @curtispritchard12 speedy recoveries 💗'. sic
We're wishing AJ and Curtis a speedy recovery!
NOW WATCH: Strictly Come Dancing: Winners through the years
Tune into Northern Ireland's Home of Great Music, Downtown Radio on FM, AM, DAB Digital Radio, online, on our Rayo app and by asking your smart speaker to 'Play Downtown Radio'. Gary & Glen kick things off every weekday morning and Neal McClelland brings you home on Downtown Drive.