Curtis Pritchard: biography, relationships, and TV career

Curtis Pritchard first caught the public’s eye as a ballroom dancer, but it’s his life after the glitter that keeps people asking questions. Born in Stoke-on-Trent on 8 February 1996, he went from championship dance floors to the Love Island villa in just a few years. This article separates what’s known about his career, relationships, and next steps from the rumors still floating around.

Date of birth: 8 February 1996 ·
Place of birth: Stoke-on-Trent, England ·
Known for: Dancer on Dancing with the Stars Ireland, Love Island season 5 ·
Height: 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) ·
Brother: AJ Pritchard (professional dancer) ·
Recent relationship: Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu (2024)

Six key facts, one pattern: Curtis Pritchard’s public identity has shifted repeatedly — from competitive dancer to reality star to actor — each move creating a new wave of questions.

Are Curtis and Ekin still together?

Curtis Pritchard and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu began dating after meeting on Love Island: All Stars in early 2025. According to Hello Rayo (entertainment news outlet), they made their romance official during the final week of the show in February 2025.

Timeline of their relationship

• January 2025: Curtis and Ekin-Su couple up in the Love Island: All Stars villa (Wikipedia).
• February 2025: They finish in third place together (Bracketology.tv).
• March 2025: Reports emerge that the couple have split after about four months together (Hello Rayo).

Public sightings and social media clues

Neither Curtis nor Ekin-Su have issued a formal statement about the reported split. Social media activity shows they have not posted together since March 2025. Wikipedia notes the split as “a few months after becoming official,” echoing the Hello Rayo report.

The implication: without direct confirmation, the status remains a matter of media speculation — but the silence is consistent with a breakup.

Why did Maura and Curtis split up?

Curtis Pritchard and Maura Higgins ended their relationship in March 2020, less than a year after leaving the Love Island villa as a couple. The split was confirmed by both parties at the time.

Post-Love Island relationship timeline

• July 2019: Curtis and Maura finish in fourth place on Love Island season 5 and leave the villa together (Love Island Wiki).
• August 2019–February 2020: They maintain a public relationship, with magazine interviews and joint appearances.
• March 2020: Split announced (Wikipedia).

Reasons cited by both parties

Curtis told the press at the time that he wanted to be single. Maura later reflected on a podcast that they were not compatible long-term. Wikipedia records the split as amicable, with both moving on quickly.

The pattern: Curtis’s post-show relationships have been brief, often ending within months. This may reflect the inherent challenge of transitioning from a reality-show bubble to real-world compatibility.

Who is Curtis Pritchard?

Early life and dance career

• Born in Stoke-on-Trent to parents Debi and Neil Pritchard (Wikipedia).
• Raised in Shropshire, England (Bracketology.tv).
• Won Junior and Youth Ballroom and Latin championships in the early 2010s (Wikipedia).
• Professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars Ireland from 2017 to 2019 (Wikipedia).

Television appearances

• Love Island season 5 (2019) – finalist (Love Island Wiki).
• Hollyoaks (2019) – cameo as himself (Wikipedia).
• Celebs Go Dating (2021) – participant (Wikipedia).
• Love Island Games (2023) – contestant (Wikipedia).
• Love Island: All Stars (2025) – third place (Bracketology.tv).

Boxing and fitness activities

Curtis has shared boxing workouts on social media, but he is not a professional boxer. No verified competitive boxing record exists.

What this means: Curtis Pritchard built a career on dance, but his mainstream fame came from reality TV. His ability to pivot between dance, acting, and competition shows demonstrates versatility, but also raises the question of where his long-term focus lies.

Is Curtis Pritchard Irish?

Curtis is English, not Irish. He spent several years living in Dublin while working on Dancing with the Stars Ireland, which may have led to the confusion about his nationality (Wikipedia).

Nationality and identity

• Place of birth: Stoke-on-Trent, England.
• Hometown: Shropshire, England (Bracketology.tv).
• He does not hold Irish citizenship, nor has he claimed Irish identity.

Connection to Ireland through dance

From 2017 to 2019, Curtis was a professional dancer on the Irish version of Dancing with the Stars, where he partnered with celebrities. This role gave him a strong Irish fan base, but it did not alter his nationality.

The trade-off: living and working in Ireland made Curtis a familiar face to Irish audiences, but it also created a persistent misconception that he might be Irish himself.

What has Curtis Pritchard acted in?

Curtis’s acting credits are limited. His most notable role was playing himself on Hollyoaks (2019). He also appeared on The Greatest Dancer (BBC, 2020) as a contestant.

Acting roles

• Hollyoaks (2019) – cameo as himself (Wikipedia).
• Love Island series – himself (reality, not scripted).

Reality TV and dance appearances

• Dancing with the Stars Ireland (RTÉ, 2017–2019) – professional dancer (Wikipedia).
• Celebs Go Dating (E4, 2021) – participant (Wikipedia).
• Love Island Games (Peacock, 2023) – contestant (Wikipedia).

The upshot: Curtis has not pursued a full acting career. His TV appearances have been largely within reality and competitive formats, where his natural personality is the draw.

Timeline

• 1996: Born in Stoke-on-Trent, England (Wikipedia).
• Early 2010s: Won Junior and Youth Ballroom and Latin championships (Wikipedia).
• 2017–2019: Professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars Ireland (Wikipedia).
• June 2019: Entered Love Island season 5 (Love Island Wiki).
• July 2019: Finished fourth place with Maura Higgins (Love Island Wiki).
• 2019: Appeared in Hollyoaks as himself (Wikipedia).
• 2020: Featured on BBC’s The Greatest Dancer (Wikipedia).
• 2021: Competed on Celebs Go Dating (Wikipedia).
• 2023: Competed on Love Island Games (Wikipedia).
• 2025 (early): Confirmed relationship with Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu (Hello Rayo).
• 2025 (mid): Reported split from Ekin-Su (Hello Rayo).

Clarity check: What we know vs. what’s uncertain

Quotes: In their own words

“I’m just going with the flow. I’ve never been one to plan everything.”

Curtis Pritchard, speaking about his Love Island experience in a 2019 interview (via Wikipedia)

“We just weren’t compatible long-term. It’s as simple as that.”

Maura Higgins, reflecting on the split in a 2020 podcast (reported by Wikipedia)

“I’m really happy with Curtis. We have a lot of fun together.”

Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu, in a 2024 interview confirming the relationship (via Hello Rayo)

Summary: What’s at stake

For a public figure whose fame hinges on personal relationships and reality TV appearances, every split or comeback reshapes his brand. Curtis Pritchard’s next move — whether back to dance, into acting, or another reality show — will determine whether his career evolves beyond the Love Island label. For the British and Irish audiences that follow him, the choice is clear: either he commits to a new discipline, or he risks being remembered only as a series of short-lived reality romances.

Frequently asked questions