CURTIS Pritchard has come under fire over the "convenient timing" of his most recent break up - weeks before being cast on Love Island All Stars.
The 28-year-old was dating West End star Sophie Sheridan for two years before their abrupt split last year.
Now friends of the former couple claim Curtis was eyeing up a spot on the ITV2 show soon after dumping heartbroken Sophie.
After Curtis defended his decision, a friend of Curtis's ex told The Sun: "Sophie feels extremely hurt and disappointed about the details of their relationship he’s chosen to share as recollections may vary.
“They broke up in October and they haven’t spoken since.
“He knew the show was coming up so the timing was all very convenient.”
Curtis broke up with Sophie just before launching his Come What May tour with his Strictly star brother AJ Curtis on September 20, 2024.
It's understood potential contestants for the new series were cast in the weeks after his relationship ended.
A TV source told The Sun: "Love Island producers don't approach stars in relationships."
Host Maya Jama expressed her shock at Curtis's fresh split during last night's launch show as he revealed he'd been single for just four months.
"That's kind of new," she told him.
Curtis replied: "It is kind of new, but I just knew it wasn't right for me. If you know that, then I just had to end it.
"I thought, I'm not going to cheat on her. I cheated on someone in my first relationship and it broke my heart as much as hers and I'll never do that again."
Curtis entered the Love Island villa in South Africa alongside Catherine Agbaje - ready to compete against the likes of Scott Thomas, Luca Bish and Marcel Somerville.
He finished fourth on series five of Love Island with Maura Higgins despite being known as the villa villain for his savage break up with ex Amy Hart.
Speaking to The Sun last week about going back on the show, Curtis said: "I had a girlfriend just previously, obviously it didn’t work out.
"She was amazing, absolutely unbelievable and whoever she ends up with will be a very very lucky person… she’s a fabulous girl.
"But sometimes people just fall out of love and it just wasn’t meant to be.
"So I felt ready from there to experience life and do things again.”
Sophie - who is yet to comment on her break up - works as a dancer and Barre instructor who shares Curtis' passion for the performing arts.
The pair first met in 2021 while working together on a pantomime production of Cinderella in Wolverhampton.
The Sun has reached out for comment.
