AJ Pritchard kept his 361,000 Instagram followers up to date as he threw himself into activities for Comic Relief 2019 yesterday. The Strictly Come Dancing professional was on hand to answer calls from the general public during the lengthy programme on BBC One. The 24-year-old was seen at his desk between X Factor singer Fleur East and Steps hitmaker Claire Richards in a series of uploaded clips. However, one of his offerings revealed that not everyone had been impressed to speak to him – one of many celebrities on hand to take donations on the star-studded programme.
AJ was seen wearing the Red Nose Day hairband as he spoke to the camera with the reality star next to him.
He started: “Ready to answer calls, making it happen, slightly amusing sometimes because one of the ladies who answered the phone, she was like, ‘Oh, so what do you do?’”
The small screen favourite continued: “I said I dance, and she said, ‘Oh I don’t really watch that show’.
“I was like… ‘Maybe try watching it this year, then you’ll know who you’re talking to’,” leaving Fleur visibly shocked.
AJ was then interrupted and got down to the task in hand: “Oh! Phonecall now, got to go. Or two!”
He later gave fans an update on how everything was going, crooning to Wet Wet Wet’s Love Is All Around with Claire, 41.
“Some people can sing around here,” AJ quipped, referring to the his companion and performers.
Following his late night, the star returned to the picture-sharing app this morning to gush about the final total.
He posted: “Yesterday was an 18hr Day for @comicrelief – the generosity of you beautiful people raised over £63 million.”
A total of £63,548,668 was donated to the cause by the end of yesterday’s fundraiser, meaning more than £1.3 billion has been raised by Comic Relief since it began in 1985.
During the proceedings, Comic Relief co-founder Richard Curtis rounded up the cast of Four Weddings And A Funeral for the main sketch of the night.
Alicia Vikander and Lily James were wed in an awkward ceremony by Rowan Atkinson’s bumbling vicar while Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell looked on as loving parents.
The film was part of the push to help vulnerable children and young people in the UK and around the world.
Bodyguard stars also got back together to take a subtle swipe at Prime Minister Theresa May in a sketch for Red Nose Day.
Richard Madden appeared as David Budd in the short film, acting as close protection officer for Joanna Lumley’s overtly flirtatious PM, similar to the romantic plotline of the series.
The sketch mocked the election slogans of the PM, with the actress demanding the former Game Of Thrones star be “strong and stable” and not “weak and wobbly”.