Former Love Island star Curtis Pritchard has made a dramatic return to reality television, entering the Love Island All Stars villa for the 2026 series. The professional dancer is hoping that this third appearance will finally lead to lasting romance, following his previous stints on the main show and an All Stars season.
Curtis Pritchard's Age and Background
Curtis Pritchard is currently 29 years old, having first entered the Love Island villa back in 2019 when he was just 23. He hails from Stoke-on-Trent, a city located near Newcastle in Staffordshire.
Love Island History and Series Appearance
Curtis originally appeared on the fifth series of Love Island in 2019, which many fans consider one of the show's most popular seasons. He shared the villa with eventual winners Amber Gill and Greg O'Shea, as well as runners-up Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury.
Entering as a bombshell contestant, Curtis initially coupled up with Amy Hart. However, their relationship famously deteriorated during Casa Amor week, leading to their eventual split. The professional dancer then partnered with Maura Higgins, with whom he managed to reach the final before finishing in fourth place.
Relationship with Maura Higgins
After leaving the villa, Curtis and Maura continued their romance for approximately nine months before rumours of infidelity surfaced. Curtis strongly denied these allegations, but the couple confirmed their split in March 2020. Maura took to Instagram to explain that while they had enjoyed a "great experience" in the villa and tried to make it work outside, their relationship ultimately wasn't meant to be.
Subsequent Relationships
Following his split from Maura, Curtis briefly dated dancer Amber Pierson in 2020. His only other confirmed relationship was with Sophie Sheridan, whom he met in 2021 and reportedly began dating in 2022. Controversy emerged when it was alleged that Curtis ended this relationship specifically to appear on All Stars 2025.
All Stars Season 2 and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu
Curtis returned to reality television last year for Love Island All Stars season 2, where he developed a passionate romance with fellow contestant Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu. Despite their fiery connection in the villa, the couple split just three months after leaving the show.
Ekin-Su described the breakup as a "really tough decision" in a personal Instagram statement, while Curtis acknowledged that "breakups are never easy" but expressed gratitude for the memories they had created together both in and out of the villa.
Family Connection: Brother AJ Pritchard
Curtis's older brother, AJ Pritchard, is also well-known in the entertainment industry. The 30-year-old professional dancer and choreographer has appeared on numerous television programmes including Hollyoaks, SAS Who Dares Wins, and I'm A Celebrity in 2020.
Television Career Beyond Love Island
Before his initial Love Island appearance, Curtis served as a professional dancer on the Irish version of Dancing with the Stars from 2017. Following his first villa experience, he and his brother AJ worked as guest choreographers on RuPaul's Drag Race UK in 2019.
After splitting from Maura Higgins, Curtis participated in Celebs Go Dating: The Mansion in 2020. Perhaps most memorably, both Curtis and AJ made their acting debuts on the soap opera Hollyoaks in 2021, with Curtis's performance generating significant social media discussion.
Curtis also appeared on the inaugural series of Love Island Games, where he had an awkward encounter with ex-girlfriend Maura Higgins during his social media exit interview. Fans can follow Curtis on Instagram at @curtispritchard12, where he shares updates about his life and career.
