Mollie King’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ partner AJ Pritchard has been "struck down with a bug", and could be forced to miss out on Saturday’s (28.10.17) live show.
The former Saturdays singer has been forced to start training with back-up dancer Patrick ahead this weekend’s Halloween special, after her professional partner AJ fell ill, and is now in a "race against time" to get well again before he is expected to take to the stage to perform the pair’s cha-cha.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "AJ has been struck down with a bug. He really needs to lie down for the majority of the day as is temperature is up and down.
"He’s popping in every now and then to training to advise on the choreography, but he doesn’t want to give Mollie his illness.
"A back-up dancer called Patrick has stepped in and is dancing with Mollie. But AJ is in a real race against time to make it to the show on Saturday."
Mollie, 30, took to her Instagram story on Wednesday (25.10.17) to share a get well message for 22-year-old AJ, but insisted she was feeling "stressed" at the prospect of having to dance with a new partner on Saturday.
She said: "So it’s day two of the cha-cha and AJ did try to come into rehearsals but he had to be sent home. So in two days, I’ve danced the cha-cha with three different boys so stressed would be an understatement."
It comes after the hunky dancer – who joined the BBC Latin and ballroom dance competition last year – recently hinted he might be interested in a romance with his dance partner.
Speaking at the start of the competition last month, he said: "We’re both single and having a fantastic time training, but I’ve only known her for two weeks.
"Who knows what will happen You do get very close, and the second dance will be a complete change of moves, that’s for sure…
"Training is a dream and we’re having so much fun in there."
‘Strictly Come Dancing’ returns on Saturday (28.10.17) at 6:35pm ob BBC One.
Mollie King’s Strictly Come Dancing partner falls ill
