Strictly’s Kevin Clifton reveals AJ Pritchard tried to 'steal' Stacey Dooley before 2018 series

Kevin Clifton has revealed that his Strictly Come Dancing co-star AJ Pritchard tried to steal Stacey Dooley for himself as a dance partner last year.

In a one-off special set to air on Saturday, the professional dancers lift the lid on their lives and what really goes on behind the scenes.

Clifton, who won last year’s series with now-girlfriend Stacey Dooley, explains how the dancers and contestants are put through a “speed dance” round to test their compatibility, reports the Sun,

The exercise sees all the celebrities and pro dancers briefly dance with each other, before being paired up with in the launch episode.

Clifton explains he was “going for it” with Dooley while they were dancing in a salsa circle, but as soon as they took a break, Pritchard stepped in and tried to pull the documentary presenter away for a private chat.

“Last year with Stacey in the salsa circle, I was going for it… overdoing it,” Clifton admits, in a scene that will air Saturday.

“At one point, we were on a coffee break and AJ interrupted us in the middle of us talking and took her away,” he explains.”He wanted to get to know her and see what she was about.”

“I was like, ‘It’s not Love Island mate!’”.

Ironically, AJ’s brother Curtis, also a professional dancer, went on to finish in fourth place on Love Island this year.

Clifton and Dooley went on to win the series in 2018 and are now a couple, following her split from ex-boyfriend Sam Tucknott.

This year, Kevin has been paired up with veteran presenter with Anneka Rice and he has insisted he's impressed with her skill, despite recent reports claiming he was “fuming” about being chosen as her partner.

For the 2019 series, Pritchard will be dancing with YouTube star Saffron Baker.

Strictly Come Dancing – The Professionals airs on Saturday at 7pm on BBC One. The first live show launches on September 21.