Love Island's Curtis Pritchard signs up for All Stars after 'secretly splitting from girlfriend of a year' - as she takes brutal swipe at him

Love Island's Curtis Pritchard has signed up for the new All Stars series after 'secretly splitting from his girlfriend Sophie Sheridan'.

The professional dancer, 28, who first appeared on the show back in 2019, reportedly jumped at the chance of returning, as he 'loved it' the first time around and is newly single.    

But before the official line-up was revealed on Tuesday, his ex Sophie made her feelings clear about her ex appearing on the ITV2 dating show shortly after their break-up. 

Under a TikTok video discussing the rumoured line-up in December, one fan wrote: 'What deal does he have with his gf Sophie?! He dropped her to go on games/hook up with others/had an early exit and then back to her. He was still with her last week! Another pretend break-up' 

Taking a swipe at her ex, Sophie replied: 'I've had a lucky escape'

A source also told The Sun: 'Curtis split from Sophie a few months ago after the pair decided they were better off as friends.

'The romance had run its course and Curtis couldn't see the relationship going any further. 

'It came at the right time, as Love Island bosses were also desperate to get him back on the show for All Stars.'

MailOnline has reached out to Curtis' representative and Sophie for comment.

Since the split, Sophie has deleted any trace of Curtis from her Instagram, while Curtis has a select few images on his page. 

The pair were first linked in March 2022 after they were spotted at Cheltenham Festival together, which he attended with his brother AJ and his girlfriend at the time, Abbie Quinnen.

Little is known about Sophie's job, but she is said to have first met Curtis through their role in the panto performance of Cinderella.

Both taking to the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre in the heart of Wolverhampton over Christmas 2021, Sophie was a member of the ensemble while TV star Curtis played Dandini.

They were later spotted at the Cheltenham Races in March 2022.

Curtis has previously dated Love Island co-star Maura Higgins after coupling up on the fifth series in 2019, after he was initially paired with Amy Hart. 

But they officially split just eight months later in March 2020.

He was accused of cheating on Maura with Amber Pierson, while Maura was accused of romancing her Dancing on Ice partner Alex Demetriou during her stint on the show in 2020. Alex and his wife even split amid the drama.

Curtis, Maura and Alex denied any claims of cheating.

Maura is reportedly 'worried' he might spill secrets about their past relationship.

'I feel like I’m in a different stage in my life,' Curtis explains. 'The idea of settling down is a serious idea in my life right now. I haven’t found my true love… that sounds so cheesy doesn’t it.'

'So, I thought, let’s give it another go. It was great fun last time; a lot of emotions. I feel excited to go back. I’m going to have a great fun time and hopefully leave with someone. It’s exciting.'

Curtis admitted there is one key moment from his last appearance on the show that 'follows me everywhere' - his infamous 'making coffee in the morning.'

He quipped that he will be taking some advice from his villa ex Amy Hart, admitting 'in hindsight, if I do find a girl this time, I will perhaps cuddle her in bed rather than make coffee… so Amy taught me a lesson.'

While Maura recently made a splash on TV with her stint in the jungle - where she spoke candidly about dating TOWIE star Pete Wicks, Curtis is also set for his own comeback in the spotlight.

A source told The Sun: 'Curtis signing for All Stars is more than awkward for Maura just as she's fallen for Pete and they've finally gone public with their love.

'Her break-up with Curtis wasn't the best and Maura always worried he'd be the ex that could blab. It's also less than ideal when she's hoping to build on her I'm A Celebrity profile and advance her career.

It comes after Maura discussed her experience on Love Island on Paul C Brunson's We Need To Talk podcast.

Speaking about her ex Curtis, she described him as a 'why not' man, explaining she only dated him due to there being limited options in the villa.

She said: 'When you're locked in a house, I say locked but you're in a house and you're in there for X amount of time. You're going to start liking people that you wouldn't normally like.

'Not to be mean but you are, you're in there. I'm pretty sure it would probably be the same on Big Brother. You're locked in a house; you're not seeing any other men. You're going to be like 'why not'.