A WHITCHURCH celebrity is back on the box after the UK’s favourite dance show made a return on Saturday.

Dance star AJ Pritchard will hit the dancefloor for another series of Strictly Come Dancing as it brings back the glitz and glamour to our screens.

And AJ, 24 could not contain his excitement at being partnered with 19-year-old YouTube star Saffron Barker from Brighton, on the show’s special launch episode.

The pair appeared to be over the moon with their partnership with AJ shouting ‘Yes!’ as his name was called out by presenter Tess Daly.

He then ran over to Saffron with his arms out for a hug while she said ‘I’m so happy’ and AJ, the older brother of Love Island 2019 finalist Curtis Pritchard, was equally delighted as he replied ‘I’m so, so happy’.

His excitement continued after the show had aired, as he took to Twitter to say: “Who’s excited now?”

And the BBC Strictly team also tweeted about the pair afterwards.

They said: “Could this pairing be any more perfect? It’s smiles all round for Saffron and AJ.”

Dancer AJ, who joined the popular BBC programme in 2016, follows in the footsteps of his dance-background parents Debi and Adrian who own Pritchards’ Dance and Fitness Academy in Burleydam near Whitchurch.

Viewers of the guilty-pleasure show will not have to wait long for their weekly fix of the Quickstep and Cha Cha Cha as Strictly Come Dancing will return on Saturday, September 21 in its usual evening slot for its live shows which will keep the nation entertained until mid December.

Keep up to date with how AJ and Saffron progress with weekly updates from the Whitchurch Herald.