Yahoo News Strictly pro AJ grown "so close" to Lauren Steadman
AJ Pritchard has developed a very special bond with Lauren Steadman since being paired up on Strictly Come Dancing.
The professional dancer opened up about the pair's relationship, ahead of performing in Blackpool this weekend.
"I am very protective of Lauren because we have worked so close together," he told The Mirror.
"There are different things that she will talk about in training that she would never talk about on camera.
"It's for that reason that we have grown so close together and we will be friends for life and who knows in the future… You never know what is going to happen."
AJ, who recently won Celebrity Hunted, also revealed how taking part in the hit BBC show had improved Lauren's confidence when it came to her disability.
The Paralympian was born without the lower portion of her right arm, but has gone on to compete in three Paralympics – and won the ITU World Championships for paratriathletes in Australia just a week before Strictly started.
"We were doing a step today and I wanted to hold Lauren's 'stumpy arm'. I said, 'I want you to use it and throw it in the air and bring it down as though your hand would be there'," AJ said.
"I remember saying the same thing in Week One and she was like, 'No, I feel so self conscious of my arm'. So for her now to say, 'I feel more comfortable about my arm', it is inspiring."
He added: "The amount of messages we get sent in by young kids who are born with one arm and they say, 'Seeing you on TV makes it more normal for us to have an arm like this'.
"In the past, people would come up to Lauren and look at her arm and be cautious. Now they talk to her and they want to touch her arm and they say, 'Oh my God, you are so amazing on Strictly'.
"It's so inspirational and it's what she wanted from week one and she is achieving it."
Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturdays and Sundays on BBC One.
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