AJ Pritchard has revealed how proud he is of Lauren Steadman and her progress on the show.

The professional dancer and the Paralympian have made it to Strictly Come Dancing’s semi-finals this weekend, and the pro said Lauren’s time on the BBC show has normalised disabilities.

Speaking of Lauren, who was born without her lower right arm, he said exclusively to Digital Spy: “I think the best way to put it, is that obviously I can never understand what a disability feels like, but when we started people came up to us and wanted pictures or something, they’ve been aware of her arm.

Strictly Come Dancing week 5: Lauren Steadman and AJ Pritchardpinterest
Guy Levy//BBC

“Now people come up and talk about how amazing she’s been on Strictly. They wouldn’t even be aware of her arm. That kind of normalisation of the situation is fantastic and the fact the show can be so powerful it can make it normal.

“The amount of messages we get from young kids, abled and disabled, it’s overwhelming. The support keeps us ticking. We’ve been starting at 8am in the morning and finishing when the studio closes at 10pm so we can’t fit any more hours in.”

Speaking of his series highlight so far, AJ added: “Musicals week. It was overwhelming. You know when things just come together on one night? It was pretty good all week and we worked very hard but it just came all together on the night. We had big props, extra dancers, it felt like it’s own show.”

Although the pair are hoping to get through to the finals and take home the glitter ball, AJ said who he’d like to win if he doesn’t.

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Getty Images

“The great thing about the show is that the British public decide who wins. People change their opinions on people. I think it’s so split this year, it’s the first year where I can’t call it. I have no idea, everybody has been fantastic.

I think Dianne Buswell is working wonders with Joe [Sugg], I think he’s fantastic and she’s a true professional who has created some beautiful choreography.”

Strictly Come Dancing is on Saturday, December 8 at 6.35pm on BBC One. The results show takes place on Sunday night (December 9) at 7.15pm.



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Catherine Earp

News Editor 

Catherine joined Digital Spy as News Editor in 2018, and oversees our team of freelance writers. Prior to that she worked at OK! Online, and has interviewed a slew of celebrities across her career in entertainment news, including Tom Hanks, Cheryl and Noel Fielding. 

Catherine also has specialist knowledge in all things drag, interviewing a huge portion of RuPaul’s Drag Race stars, and getting her own drag makeover for Channel 4’s show Drag SOS

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