The Rest Is Entertainment's Marina Hyde claims AJ Pritchard is 'doing an impression of a hard-hitting news man' and says his widely mocked GB News presenting debut could be 'commercially useful' for the channel

AJ Pritchard's debut on GB News has been summed up as an 'impression of a hard-hitting news man' by journalist Marina Hyde.

The former Strictly dancer, 31, made his first appearance as a presenter on the news channel earlier this month, joining The Saturday Five programme. 

His debut was quickly attacked with a stream of critique about his wooden delivery and he was soon trending on Google, whilst one video of his performance notched up 1.7million views. 

As one baffled viewer asked on X: 'Since when was a dancing professional a journalist?'

Marina, a journalist of over 25 years, discussed AJ's new job on the latest episode of The Rest Is Entertainment podcast with her co-host Richard Osman. 

'His first stint went viral because it seemed like he was almost doing an impression of a hard-hitting newsman,' Marina pointed out.

She explained that GB News' reasoning in hiring the reality TV regular was most likely to keep up with the viral market. 

'You're going to see a lot more of these news channels doing stunt stuff... they haven't booked him for the news value,' she explained.

'Everyone is trying to get some kind of hook into the viral market. As I say, they have tiny audiences and we have this legacy idea that these shows are important.'

'Your competition is genuinely people producing news commentary in their bedrooms or with podcasts. And this is the real problem for these channels. And it's happening all the time.'

'Anything that sticks out or makes a clippable moment for these news channels is supposed to be worth it.'

'So the fact that this clip of AJ doing it very, very badly has gone viral, it might be regarded as some kind of win. It might be the most commercially useful thing that happened on GB news in 24 hours.'

Richard agreed, explaining that news channels aren't profitable 'and what GB News want really is to stem the losses a bit'.

'It's actually worked for both of them because the whole point of this is they will just put him on again now because why wouldn't you? And he'll get better at it I'm sure.'

'It's worth it for him because he needs a shop window because he wants to be on other shows and he wants to do live things and it's his profession.'

Professional dancer AJ shot to fame on Strictly, where he featured from 2016 until his departure in 2019.

He quit the BBC show in the hope of making it as a TV presenting duo alongside his brother, Love Island star Curtis. 

The duo had a panned stint on Hollyoaks and between them countless appearances on other reality shows.

Earlier this year AJ tried his luck across the pond, finishing runner-up on the US show Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, which had he won would have landed him a job as a professional dancer on the US equivalent of Strictly.

AJ found himself in trouble during his time on the US show over his 'constant critique' of his dance partner, whilst a DWTS favourite called out his arrogant attitude. 

His former Strictly co-star Oti Mabuse also weighed in, saying AJ 'rubbed people up the wrong way' while on Strictly.

'AJ the professional is skilled what he has to deliver on the dance floor cannot be taken away, it cannot be denied. It is a skill, it's a talent; it is a power of his, it is a tool,' Oti said.

She continued: 'But now through the show, genuinely, what I'm seeing is… I think he is really scared. 

'Whatever he's doing and he's saying is coming from a place of being scared and wanting to be good enough, which essentially means that maybe he doesn't feel like he's good enough.

Last month Oti claimed that not everyone took to AJ when he was on Strictly and suggested that his 'personality' was an issue.

When asked if it was 'fair' that AJ was being given a chance on The Next Pro, Oti said: 'That guy is so controversial.

'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.