I’m A Celeb EXCLUSIVE: AJ Pritchard’s late nan inspired him to take up dance

I’m A Celebrity star AJ Pritchard always wanted to make his late grandmother proud as she inspired him to take up dance, it’s been revealed.

Sources close to the ballroom star, 26, told MailOnline that Angela’s tragic death ‘came at the worst time’ as he’ll learn of her passing once he leaves the ITV survival programme.

The campmate’s nan passed away last Friday aged 93 following a battle with dementia.

On their close relationship, an insider told MailOnline: ‘When AJ finds out about his grandmother he is going to be heartbroken. 

‘His grandmother meant the world to him and was one of the guiding forces behind him wanting to take up dance. He’s always always wanted to make her proud.

‘This will be very difficult news for him to come out to. The timing of it really couldn’t be worse. You go on to a show like this wanting to make the people you love proud. The last thing you expect to come out to is news of a death. 

‘AJ will want to make this count and make sure this time away from his family when they need him the most. Will not have been in vain. To come out now would be a bigger blow.’

His girlfriend Abbie Quinnen recently shared that she believes the robin that visited North Wales’ Gwyrch Castle was Angela saying goodbye. 

Dancer Abbie, 23, said brothers AJ and Curtis, 24, would always visit their grandparents before doing a TV show or working away from home – just in case the elderly couple took a turn for the worse.

Abbie said: ‘AJ did know that his Nan was in hospital when we were in lockdown. Unfortunately we found out she wasn’t very well. He will be really upset.

‘She’s had bad dementia so whenever Curtis and AJ do a big TV job or a stint where they’re away they always go and see their grandparents before just in case because they know how old and frail and also how ill she was.

‘There was a robin that went in and robins are known to visit a relative once they’ve passed and we believe that robin was actually AJ’s Nan and seeing that robin gave huge, huge comfort to the family so we were pleased the robin visited on that day.’

Robins are thought to be a sign that loved ones are still with their grieving families, with the bird in camp appearing just one day after AJ’s grandmother passed away.

AJ’s brother Curtis confirmed their beloved Nan had passed this week with a post on Instagram, which said she had helped him to become the man he is today and ‘words cannot describe how much I love you.’  

Due to coronavirus, their loved ones, as in previous years when the series was set in Australia, can’t meet celebrities departing camp. 

Abbie said: ‘I am devastated I can’t run and hug him when he leaves – that is such an iconic moment from I’m A Celeb and it’s really sad they can’t see their loved ones as soon as possible to make them feel happy and to tell them how amazing they’ve done but I will get to see him soon.’ 

The professional dancer from Surrey, who’s been in a relationship with AJ for 18 months after they met on his dance tour, Get on the Floor, hopes her boyfriend can go all the way in the competition and be crowned King of the Castle.