Steph's Packed Lunch: AJ Pritchard takes swipe at Anton

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I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here returns to ITV on November 21. Ant and Dec will be returning to Gwrych Castle in Wales to host this year’s hit show for a second year following the COVID-19 travel restriction imposed in 2020, which meant the usual setting of the Australian jungle was off the cards. Former Strictly Come Dancing star AJ Pritchard spoke exclusively to Express.co.uk to discuss the shows, where he gave this year’s brave famous faces some handy tips.

AJ became the seventh celebrity to leave the 2020 show alongside Mo Farah.

“It was very cold!” He stated. “So whoever is going in this year, turn your heating off, prepare yourself for the cold and wear extra socks.”

Talking about his experience on the programme, the 26-year-old explained: “With I’m A Celebrity, being an absolute super fan of the show I grew up watching it in Australia.

“You see the heat, you see the warmth.

“I think your family sees it as fast tickets to the Versace hotel.

“So when I did have to tell my family, ‘I’m sorry, we’re in Wales, 45 minutes from home, so I know it’s going to be wet and cold.

“And there’s no hotels or flights to Australia’, I think they were more upset than I was!

“I think with Abbie [Quinnen] there was a couple of tears that she’s not going on holiday!

“But I was glad the show was going ahead, because it was at the time of a lot of uncertainty.

“And I’ve honestly made friends from it.

“Watching Mo Farah in the 2012 Olympics, screaming for him, and now saying that I can give him a call if I want to because I’ve got his phone number and we’re best friends.

“It’s kind of a surreal moment, and everybody in there, Russell [Watson] again, I’ve seen him sing, and now I can go to his house and say hi and have dinner with him.

“It’s amazing memories and amazing people – Giovanna [Fletcher] I’ve just been out to see her and her amazing podcast, it’s just amazing the people you meet and memories you’ll never forget.”

AJ also admitted he misses taking part in Strictly Come Dancing.

“Of course I miss being on the show,” he explained. “It’s a fantastic show and everybody that’s on there, I miss.

“All the friends, hair and makeup the camera guys behind the scenes and obviously the Strictly professionals.”

He continued: “But for me, I feel like I did four fantastic years I absolutely loved

“And I felt like I left on a super high, then going on to the I’m a Celebrity in the castle and do other fun projects this year which I wouldn’t be able to do [with Strictly Come Dancing].

“You can’t do everything and it’s the kind of decisions you have to make, those tough decisions so you can move on with different passions that you’ve got.”

AJ Pritchard was speaking to Express.co.uk in conjunction with William Hill.

Strictly Come Dancing continues Saturday at 6.45pm on BBC One.

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