Strictly's Karen Hauer says it was 'low' of AJ Pritchard to urge the BBC to bring in more 'British' talent after professional dancer shakeup

Strictly star Karen Hauer has weighed in after AJ Pritchard called on the show to prioritise British dancers over international performers. 

Staffordshire native AJ – who competed on Strictly for four series – raised eyebrows when he told the Daily Mail that it is 'really important for a show like Strictly to really benefit the British dancers'.

Following his comments, former dancer Oti Mabuse argued back against claims, reasoning that the 'most popular pros on Strictly have not been British', citing the likes of Aljaz Škorjanec, I'm talking Giovanni Pernice and Janette Manrara as examples. 

Now Karen has revealed that she also disagrees with AJ's remarks, with the Venezuelan dancer – who was Strictly's longest-serving female pro before she quit this year after 14 years – branding the comments 'low'. 

Karen, 44, mused: 'As an immigrant, I've worked everywhere, and I think that our world right now is about seeing different things. 

'Maybe there's dancers here in the UK that don't want to join the show, that haven't come forward. '

Karen continued: 'It's a very unique casting. Not only do you have to be a good dancer, you have to be a good teacher, you have to be good at talking.

'You don't just dance on Strictly, you're a coach, you're a therapist, your communication skills have to be very good.

'There's a lot that goes into being a Strictly dancer. So if you want to come in and audition, that's great.'

Referencing the fact that AJ recently flew over to the States to audition for their version of the show, called Dancing With The Stars, Karen continued: 'You don't hear Americans say we need only Americans.

'We're all immigrants, we're all doing the best that we can, and we're all gonna take the opportunities that we can.

'So yeah, it was a little bit low of him to say that. Don't say that.

'I love AJ, I think he's brilliant, he's very, very talented, and he took an opportunity [in the US] and everyone will take the opportunities that come to them, so all good.

'He's always well spoken, I think he probably just didn't really think about [his comments] too much.'

Karen isn't the only Strictly pro to take umbrage with AJ's comments, after he told the Daily Mail: 'I think one thing that's really important for a show like Strictly is to really benefit the British dancers.

'There are so many great British professionals who can really use this opportunity to showcase what they can do.

'I think maybe in the past, people have been a bit chill, a bit playing it safe. I never play it safe. 

'Every single year, whether it be choreography, lifts, tricks, like, that's what makes a routine exciting, and that's what makes the audience be like, we really like this couple.'

AJ later doubled down on his remarks, telling The Sun last month: 'I think, upsettingly, I would love to see more British dancers on the show.

'We're in the UK, I'm proud to be British, and there are so many fantastic boys and girls out there who would love the opportunity. So really kind of regionally, it would support the country that we are proud to be. I would love to see that, personally.'

When asked if it was 'fair' that AJ was being given a chance on The Next Pro - the American competition to land a place on Dancing With The Stars, Oti said: 'I like this one actually cause it's asking about AJ. That guy is so controversial.

'It's so funny, I don't even know how to word this. And he might have rubbed a lot of people the wrong way with his personality, right? We can admit that as well,' she said candidly.

'Like, him coming out in public and saying he wants British dancers on a British show because Strictly is Britain…'

Addressing his remarks directly, she said: 'The most popular pros on Strictly have not been British. I'm talking Aljaz, I'm talking Giovanni, I'm talking Janette.

'Even now, Vito [Coppola], Nikita [Kumzin], Alexis [Warr], Katya [Jones]. Even back in the day, we're going Vincent Simone, we're going Ola Jordan, we're going Kristina Rihanoff, we're going Natalie Lowe. Those are the legends. And they're not British.'

'So you can imagine that for a lot of people, that would have rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. And also, Strictly is different. Out of all the brands, all the brands.

'No, we are global. Our professionals are global because that global mixture is what makes us beautiful and is what makes us special.'

Now Karen is preparing for her first winter without Strictly in 14 years, but has continued to keep busy, booking in for pantomime and a theatre show. 

She is also working with Burns Pet Nutrition to host The Burns Bravery Awards in November and is calling on the nation to nominate Britain's Bravest Dog.

From Search & Rescue and assistance dogs to rescue dogs, working dogs and beloved family companions, the campaign is inviting people to come forward with deserving dogs.

Karen said: ' I'm a dog lover and I have four incredible, rescue dogs who mean the world to me, so being part of these incredible awards is a dream come true in a way.

'A lot of people have different dreams, but my dream is always to, you know, be talking about dogs and how incredible they are and the meaning that they have to us.

'We're asking for everyone across the country to nominate a dog that's done something for them or that they've seen doing incredible jobs.

'We want to hear their stories and we want to share their stories with everyone around them.

'What I say about my dogs is that I rescued them, but they actually rescued me. They support us, they comfort us, it's beautiful. 

The instincts that they have to nurture and to know when you're in danger, when you are feeling low, how it helps with our mental well-being, how it helps with our physical well-being.

'We have our own little personal trainers with us and our psychologists.'

You can nominate a brave dog and learn more about the awards at https://burnspet.co.uk/pages/burns-bravery-awards