Strictly mole snitches on Oti Mabuse & AJ Pritchard’s feud, what sparked it & how tensions have been bubbling for YEARS

Strictly Come Dancing has never been short of backstage feuds, clashing personalities and whispered rivalries between some of its biggest stars. But while viewers have long watched tensions bubble beneath the glitterball, few would have imagined Oti Mabuse would be at the centre of one fallout. Insiders claim AJ Pritchard’s relationship with Oti Mabuse was a closely guarded backstage secret during their years on Strictly Come Dancing Credit: BBC Oti Mabuse brought the backstage feud into the open during a candid TikTok Q&A about AJ Credit: BBC Press Handout Least of all with baby-faced ballroom favourite AJ Pritchard, who wowed audiences after joining the professional line-up in 2016. But I can reveal that there was often tension behind the scenes between Oti and AJ, with sources blaming it on a personality clash. Insiders have told The Sun that the pair “didn’t really click” and that tensions between them became well known to those working on the show. A source said: “It’s no secret behind the scenes that they didn’t really click – they didn’t get along. They were always very different characters and there wasn’t much of a connection between them off camera.” According to those who worked alongside the pair, it was a dynamic that remained firmly behind the scenes while both dancers continued to perform in front of millions of viewers every Saturday night. But this week, Oti appeared to confirm the feud with her former co-star during a social media Q&A, when she suggested he “rubbed a lot of people the wrong way”. The source continued: “Everyone at the BBC knew – but since Oti spoke out, everyone has been talking about it. It’s definitely become a hot topic behind the scenes.” Although both stars have long since left Strictly, insiders say the renewed attention has inevitably put the spotlight back on a relationship that was never quite as straightforward as it appeared on screen. Our insider added: “It’s all a bit awkward now, especially as they still cross paths quite regularly. They still end up at a lot of the same events and industry gatherings, so it’s not as though they can completely avoid each other.” Those familiar with the backstage atmosphere say the tension between the pair never spilled into public view. But Oti seems to have spilled the beans during her chat. When a fan on social media asked whether AJ should be competing for a place on the American version of Dancing With The Stars, the two-time Strictly champion delivered a shocking assessment of her former colleague. Speaking on TikTok, she began: “That guy is so controversial. I don’t even know how to word this. And he might have rubbed a lot of people the wrong way with his personality, right? We can admit that as well.” Oti admitted she believed he’d said things about the BBC show that had not gone down well with some people connected to the programme. For those who worked alongside the pair, however, there was little surprise. Insiders told The Sun Oti’s remarks simply echoed what had long been understood behind the scenes, bringing a backstage dynamic into public view for the first time. Oti addressed comments AJ made in an exclusive interview with The Sun last year, in which he argued that he’d “love to see more British dancers” represented on Strictly. At the time, AJ said: “We’re in the UK, I’m proud to be British and there are so many fantastic boys and girls out there who would love the opportunity. So regionally, it would support the country.” Responding to those remarks on TikTok, Oti pointed to what she believes has always made Strictly one of the biggest entertainment shows on British television, arguing that its success has been built on attracting world-class talent from across the globe rather than limiting opportunities by nationality. She said: “The most popular pros on Strictly have not been British. I’m talking Aljaz, I’m talking Giovanni, I’m talking Janette. Even now, Vito, Nikita, Alexis, Katya. Even back in the day, we’re going Vincent Simone, we’re going Ola Jordan, we’re going Kristina Rihanoff, we’re going Natalie Lowe. Those are the legends. And they’re not British.” The star continued: “So you can imagine that for a lot of people, that would have rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. And also, Strictly is different. Out of all the brands, all the brands. No, we are global.” She also highlighted current professionals including Vito Coppola, Nikita Kuzmin and Dianne Buswell as examples of how dancers from around the world have helped shape the programme into the success it is today. Oti added: “We have dancers from Italy, from Ukraine, from Africa, from Australia… and that’s what makes Strictly so special.” “So he’s gone off and left the biggest brand, and just been really horrible about it. So that might rub a lot of people the wrong way,’ she continued about AJ. Despite her criticism, Oti stopped short of dismissing AJ’s latest career ambitions altogether. Instead, she suggested a fresh start in America could work in his favour. “He left, and he decided, okay, maybe now I’ve matured, I’ve grown, and I’d like another opportunity. Do I think he should now try to go for the American one? Yeah, maybe that one might work out better for him. Maybe his personality might be a little bit more palatable there.” Strictly Come Dancing legend Oti Mabuse revealed her real feelings on a fellow former pro Credit: tiktok/@otimabuse AJ Pritchard is now hoping to land a role as a professional dancer on the American version of Dancing With The Stars Credit: Disney Writing alongside the clip, she added: “Let’s allow people’s dream to manifest and not block blessings! Wish AJ the best of luck.” Oti and AJ’s paths first crossed nearly a decade ago when they became part of the same generation of Strictly professionals that helped define one of the show’s most successful eras. Oti joined the BBC hit in 2015 after first making her name on the German version of the format. Within just a few years she had established herself as one of Strictly’s biggest stars, lifting the Glitterball Trophy twice and becoming one of the programme’s most recognisable faces before leaving in 2021. AJ arrived a year later, joining the professional line-up in 2016. Already well known within the competitive dance world alongside younger brother Curtis, he quickly became one of the show’s most recognisable young professionals before leaving in 2019 to pursue other television opportunities. Since then, both careers have travelled in very different directions. Oti became one of British television’s busiest entertainment personalities, going on to judge The Greatest Dancer, The Masked Dancer and Dancing On Ice, while fronting new BBC projects and later joining the judging panel on Ireland’s Dancing With The Stars. AJ, meanwhile, swapped the ballroom for reality television, appearing on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, Hollyoaks and a host of presenting roles, while continuing to dance professionally. Oti Mabuse became one of Strictly’s biggest stars, lifting the Glitterball Trophy twice before leaving the BBC show in 2021 Credit: PA AJ was a professional on Strictly from 2016 to 2019 (pictured with Saffron Barker) Credit: PA Now he’s hoping for another shot inside the franchise that first made him famous by competing for a place as a professional on the American version of Dancing With The Stars. As the video gathered pace across social media, viewers quickly weighed in on Oti’s assessment. One fan wrote: “You forgot one legend… you.” Another added: “Not sure if AJ has noticed but not all pros in DWTS are American either. Lots of Russian pros whom I think are incredible. His attitude is poor.” While Oti ultimately wished AJ well in his bid to join the American version of the franchise, insiders say her comments have inevitably shone a fresh spotlight on a backstage relationship they said had been strained for years. And after what they describe as one of Strictly’s longest-running unspoken dynamics, those close to the show believe a feud that had remained behind the ballroom doors has finally found its way into the public.