AJ PRITCHARD’S GB NEWS DEBUT SPARKS ‘CAR CRASH’ REACTION — VIEWERS RUSH TO JUDGE HIS VERY DIFFERENT NEW TV ROLE

AJ Pritchard has traded the dance floor for the news desk — but his first appearance in a brand-new TV role has already left viewers sharply divided.

The former Strictly Come Dancing professional, 31, made his debut on GB News with a segment focusing on shoplifting and the impact of so-called petty crime.

But while AJ appeared determined to make his mark away from the ballroom, some viewers were far from impressed by what they saw.

Comments online quickly turned brutal, with one viewer declaring: “He was rubbish, I couldn’t watch it. He couldn’t even read an autocue properly.”

Another went even further, writing: “If you didn’t think anything AJ Pritchard did could be worse than his acting, allow me to introduce you to his segment on GB News.”

A third simply branded the performance “an absolute car crash”, describing his presenting skills as “disastrous” and “total amateur.”

FROM STRICTLY TO THE NEWS DESK

AJ became a familiar face on Strictly after joining the BBC show as a professional dancer in 2016, remaining on the programme until his departure in 2019.

Since leaving the ballroom, however, his career has taken several unexpected turns.

He appeared alongside his brother Curtis in Hollyoaks in 2021, playing dancer Marco, in an acting stint that attracted a mixed response.

More recently, AJ attempted to secure a place on the US version of Dancing With The Stars, competing on reality series Dancing With The Stars: The Next Pro.

Ultimately, he lost out — but that setback has now been followed by an entirely different opportunity.

AJ has landed a role on GB News, where his first segment tackled the issue of shoplifting.

‘PETTY CRIME IS NOT VICTIMLESS’

During the segment, AJ argued that shoplifting should not be dismissed simply because individual thefts may involve relatively small amounts of money.

“I think the worrying thing [is] if you live or work in a city, you see it all the time,” he told viewers.

He described people entering shops, taking items such as meal deals and leaving without paying, before questioning the idea that a few pounds can make little difference.

“But think of this: thousands of times, every single shop, every single day, and suddenly, it’s not so petty at all,” AJ said.

The former Strictly star’s appearance therefore marked a significant change from the environment where audiences first got to know him — putting him in front of a camera for a very different reason.

VIEWERS COULDN’T AGREE ON AJ’S PERFORMANCE

The strongest reactions focused less on the subject of the segment and more on AJ himself.

One viewer called the appearance “a bad school production”, claiming they could have presented it “slicker” and “more natural.”

They added: “He’s totally useless in the hot seat! He’s a dancer, not a presenter!”

Yet the reaction was not universally negative.

One viewer offered AJ some sympathy, suggesting he simply needed time to settle into the unfamiliar role.

“I think AJ will be OK after some time,” they wrote, adding that viewers could see he was trying to keep up with and get used to reading from the teleprompter.

That more forgiving assessment could prove significant if AJ continues with the role.

After years of performing choreographed routines under the Strictly spotlight, the GB News desk presents an entirely different challenge — and viewers have wasted little time deciding whether they think he can make the transition.

For now, AJ’s first appearance has certainly got people talking. The bigger question is whether the former Strictly pro can turn an awkward first outing into the start of a successful second act on television.