They rose to fame on Love Island together – and while the hit dating show focuses on romance blossoming between couples, one of this summer’s breakout relationships was the unexpected bromance between Tommy Fury and Curtis Pritchard.
And now boxer Tommy and dancer Curtis have landed themselves a new TV show, which will follow the pair as they try their hand at the other’s profession, swapping the boxing ring for the ballroom dancefloor and vice versa.
Unsurprisingly, they say they’ve had a lot of fun filming the show, insisting their friendship has only become stronger since leaving the villa in July.
Tommy, 20, says, “In Love Island, we were just two guys who got on really well and we just clicked like that. We didn’t think anything of [the bromance] – but coming out, it was this marvellous thing. And we’ve both been busy, but filming this show has enabled us to see each other a lot more. We’ve built on the friendship now.”
Curtis, 23 – who will trade punches with Tommy in the ring – agrees, adding, “The show has been really good for us to spend time together. I have such a respect for boxing! We’re best mates, but we’re also competitive, as we’re sportsmen. But I’ll always want the best for Tommy.”
WATCH 'Best year of my life': Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae at the Pride of Britain Awards
As well as hitting it off with one another, Tommy and Curtis both found love on the show – Tommy with influencer Molly-Mae Hague, 20, and Curtis with Irish model Maura Higgins, 29.
And while many of the couples from this summer’s series have already called it quits – with winners Amber Gill and Greg O’Shea announcing their break-up just weeks after the final – Tommy and Curtis are both still happily loved-up.
Tommy –who is now living with Molly Mae – says, “Everyone says that, with Love Island, the relationships don’t last. But I’m very old-fashioned – once you’ve got your woman, you keep hold of her tightly.
“Mine and Molly’s relationship is no different to anyone else’s. We live together, go out and do our jobs, come home, have our tea and go to bed. We’re not big celebrities, we’re a normal couple.”
CHECK OUT all the Love Island couples still together
All the Love Island couples - slider
1 of 25Hannah Elizabeth and Jonathan Clark (2015): SPLIT
Remember when they, like, got engaged on the show? That one didn't quite last...
2 of 25Luis Morrison and Cally Jane Beech (2015): SPLIT
They had the first ever Love Island baby but in September 2018 they confirmed they'd split.
3 of 25Jordan Ring and Zoe Brown (2015): SPLIT
Absolutely DID NOT work IRL. Neeext.
4 of 25Jessica Hayes and Max Morley (2015): SPLIT
Still fancy Max in a huge way, not gonna lie.
5 of 25Katie Salmon and Adam Maxwell (2016): SPLIT
Adam claimed he was '100 percent single' shortly after leaving the villa and, um, that was that. #Kadam; gone but never forgotten.
6 of 25Rykard Jenkins and Rachel Fenton (2016): SPLIT
At least they lasted 18 months. Not bad going...
7 of 25Scott Thomas and Kady McDermott (2016): SPLIT
Scott and Kady managed a year before splitting in 2017.
8 of 25Nathan Massey and Cara de da Hoyde (2016): STILL TOGETHER
They've got their little Love Island baby and everything.
9 of 25Malin Andersson and Terry Walsh (2016): SPLIT
He did date fellow Love Island-er Emma-Jane Woodhams eight months in actual real life before calling it a day. AH WELL.
10 of 25Gabby Allen and Marcel Somerville (2017): SPLIT
Gabby dumped Marcel after he was spotted cheating as they holidayed TOGETHER. Blimey.
11 of 25Jamie Jewitt and Camilla Thurlow (2017): STILL TOGETHER
An absolute success story of Love Island 2017, Jamie and Camilla and Jamie are still the CUTEST of couples.
12 of 25Sam Gowland and Georgia Harrison (2017): SPLIT
Sam seems to be doing alright for himself on Geordie Shore, so we don't think he's too gutted.
13 of 25Olivia Attwood and Chris Hughes (2017): SPLIT
The couple were plagued with cheating rumours throughout their relationship (who can forget that whole Chris Hughes and Katie Price debacle?). Since their ITVBe show Crackin' On ended, Olivia's confirmed she's back with ex-boyfriend Bradley Dack.
14 of 25Alex Bowen and Olivia Buckland (2016): STILL TOGETHER
Alex and Olivia are married and literally as strong as ever. We like to live vicariously through them, to be honest.
15 of 25Tyla Carr and Jonny Mitchell (2017): SPLIT
Oh it was never gonna last, was it?
16 of 25Kem Cetinay and Amber Davies (2017): SPLIT
TheLove Island2017 winners split in December 2017; five months after the finale.
17 of 25Montana Brown and Alex Beattie (2017): SPLIT
These two split just weeks after returning to the UK. Sad times.
18 of 25Dom Lever and Jess Shears (2017): STILL TOGETHER
Jess and Dom are SO together, in fact, they got 'married' on Good Morning Britain on Valentine's Day 2017. They then got, y'know, properly married.
19 of 25Sam Bird and Georgia Steel: SPLIT
You know how this one went. Sam accused Georgia of cheating on him with her ex, which she denied. It's safe to say they didn't split on the best of terms.
20 of 25Zara McDermott and Adam Collard: SPLIT
Zara and Adam called it quits at the beginning of 2019. WAH.
21 of 25Megan Barton-Hanson and Wes Nelson: SPLIT
Megan and Wesdidmove in together, but announced their split in January 2019 following rumours Wes was getting close toDancing on Icepartner Vanessa Bauer. Uh oh.
22 of 25Josh Denzel and Kaz Crossley: SPLIT
Josh and Kaz announced their split in February 2019, with Kaz saying: "Sometimes things don't go the way you planned, but you have to be grateful for the journey. Thank you for everything especially showing me how to love myself again."
23 of 25Samira Mighty and Frankie Foster: SPLIT
Frankie reportedly cheated on Samira and that was that. Done. Over. thank u, next.
24 of 25Laura Anderson and Paul Knops: SPLIT
There's no bad blood betweenLaura and Paul, but they split months after making it to the final of the show.
25 of 25Jack Fincham and Dani Dyer: SPLIT
Dani released a statement via Instagram Stories (how very 2018) announcing thewinning 2018 couple had SPLIT, before they got back together just days later. Hmm.However fast forward to April 2019 and Jack announced they'd split.
And with regards to the show, Tommy and Curtis admit their girlfriends have had mixed reactions to them taking up their new skills – but the boys say that they’ve loved every minute of filming the show.
Tommy says, “Molly’s been so supportive with my dancing. She’s been shining my shoes for me every night!”
He continues, “I’ve got a whole new respect for dancing… I didn’t realise how much work, time and thought you need to put into it. You’ve constantly got to think about it.”
Curtis says, “Maura is fed up of me nearly punching her! I physically cannot wait to get in that ring. Boxing is a game of chess – it’s incredible. Yes, I’ll get punched and it’ll hurt, but there’s so much to it. I fell in love with it – it’s a truly incredible sport.”
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Curtis reveals he and Maura make their relationship work by staying grounded – and says he can’t wait to watch her debut on Dancing On Ice this coming January.
“Things are going incredibly well with me and Maura,” he says. “[Since Love Island] I don’t feel like I’ve become a celebrity or some big famous person. I’m no different to anyone else. Maura feels the same as well, which is why we work together. A lot of people do come out and think that they are a lot bigger than they are... It can go to your head.
“And I’ve seen her [training for Dancing on Ice] a couple of times. I saw her the first time she skated, and there was room for improvement – but she’s doing incredibly, she really is. She’s got a lot better. She’s definitely one to watch."
Read more in this week's Closer magazine, out now