Were Mollie King and AJ Pritchard dating and who have the Strictly 2017 duo dated in the past?
STRICTLY is just as famous for its love stories as it is for its dancing – and in the most recent series people thought Mollie King and AJ Pritchard would be the latest couple to emerge.
But are the pair really dating or are they just god friends? Here is all you need to know...
Who is Mollie King?
Mollie King is a singer, model, ski expert and former beauty queen from London, best known for being one-fifth of The Saturdays.
The 30-year-old began her rise to fame by auditioning for The X Factor in 2005 aged 18, where she clashed with Sharon Osbourne over her chosen outfit despite impressing with her vocal.
She returned in 2007 as part of girl band Fallen Angelz, but they did not progress past the Bootcamp round.
Then in that same year Mollie auditioned to be part of girl band The Saturdays, alongside the likes of Frankie Sandford, who had been a member of S Club Juniors.
As soon as they'd formed the group toured with Girls Aloud, and they eventually released four albums, selling five million of them.
The band went on permanent hiatus in 2014 and Mollie released her debut single, Back To You, in 2016 with plans for her own album underway.
After ditching her first famous boyfriend dated Andy Brown, lead singer of Lawson, Mollie also had a high profile relationship with male model David Gandy in 2011 and then again 2015-6.
Who is Strictly pro AJ Pritchard?
AJ, aka Alex Joseph Pritchard, is a 23-year-old professional dancer and Strictly partner from Stoke-on-Trent.
He started dancing at a young age, learning his craft at his mum and dad Adrian and Debi’s dance school, Pritchard’s Dance and Fitness Academy in Cheshire.
The snowboarding fan began to dance professionally from the age of 12 after giving up his dream of being an extreme sports star.
His parents chose a partner for him from their dance school, Chloe Hewitt, and they went on to represent England in competitions around the world.
In 2013, AJ and Chloe appeared on the seventh series of ITV talent show Britain’s Got Talent and made it through to the semi-finals before being eliminated.
Then at the tender age of 22, after ten years in the world of dance and having picked up numerous trophies, singleton AJ joined the roster of Strictly Come Dancing professionals.
He and Chloe joined the show in 2016, and for his first time on the programme he was paired with gymnast Chloe Frangapane.
They came fourth, just missing out on the final.
In 2017 AJ reached the semi-finals with Mollie.
more strictly gossip
Is AJ Pritchard dating Mollie King?
Mollie and AJ were paired up for the 2017 series of Strictly and immediately hit it off - but the pair are refusing to confirm.
Rumours began when they spent a cosy night together watching the launch show.
Just a fortnight into the show they shared a very intimate celebratory hug and strolled arm-in-arm on a walk out together.
The duo are inseparable, often seen grinning in each other's company, and Strictly judges have commented on their "believable chemistry" as well as asking if they're dating.
Mollie's Saturdays band mate Una Healy also dropped a huge hint romance was on the cards.
The Sun's Bizarre column revealed that the pair were caught snogging during training for the show, with their secret romance the talk of backstage.
Perhaps the clearest sign they're an item came at the Pride Of Britain awards when they were seen leaving the party together after posing for pictures looking incredibly close.
Days later AJ teased viewers of spin-off show It Takes Two by revealing Mollie "falls in love with [him]" during their latest dance.
Then on February 13, 2018 former Strictly pro Branden Cole fuelled the speculation further by telling The Sun that they DID get together on the show.
However, in early March The Sun on Sunday exclusively revealed that Mollie had been on secret dates with hunky England cricket ace Stuart Broad.
A source told the newspaper: “It’s the early stages but they are both really into each other. It looks like a proper romance.
“Stuart has even said he could see himself settling down with Mollie if it all continues to go well.
“They are well-suited and make an attractive couple.”