AJ Odudu explained

AJ Odudu
Birth Name:Onatejiro Odudu
Birth Date:12 February 1988
Birth Place:Blackburn, Lancashire, England, UK
Occupation:Television presenter
Years Active:2009–present
Employer:ITV
Channel 4
Television:Big Brother's Bit on the Side (2013)
Married at First Sight: Afters (2021–2022)
Big Brother (2023–present)
Celebrity Big Brother (2024–present)
Alma Mater:Keele University

Onatejiro "AJ" Odudu (born 12 February 1988)[1] is a British television presenter. She is best known for co-presenting the 2013 Channel 5 reality show spin-off Big Brother's Bit on the Side, alongside Emma Willis and Rylan Clark, and the 2021 Channel 4 reality show spin off Married at First Sight: Afters. In October 2023, Odudu began co-hosting the ITV2 revival of Big Brother alongside Will Best, and the pair began hosting the spin-off Celebrity Big Brother in 2024.

Early life and education

Odudu was born in Blackburn, Lancashire. Her mother, Florence, and father, James, are Nigerian and she is one of eight children (five boys and three girls). Her parents had an arranged marriage, for which her mother emigrated to the United Kingdom from Nigeria in the 1970s. Her father worked as a bus conductor, and her mother worked as a seamstress, cleaner, and dinner lady at a private school.[2]

Odudu attended St Bede's RC High School and St Mary's College in Blackburn. In 2009 she graduated with a degree in English and Politics from Keele University.[3]

Career

Odudu began her career as a reporter for BBC Blast based at Radio Lancashire. Her first presenting roles began in 2009 on the BBC Two series The Almost Perfect Guide to Life[4] and on The 5:19 Show, an online show on the BBC website,[5] having previously served as the latter's 'raving reporter'.[6] In 2010, she was a guest on 100 Greatest Toys, a one-off special broadcast on Channel 4. She starred as herself in Comedy Lab in 2011 and co-presented Sky Arts' coverage of the Isle of Wight Festival 2012.[4]

In June 2013, Odudu began presenting Big Brother's Bit on the Side with Rylan Clark and Emma Willis, and then Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Psych from August 2013. Her departure from the show was confirmed in November 2013, being replaced by Celebrity Big Brother 12 contestant and former Loose Women panellist, Carol McGiffin.[7] In August 2013, Odudu launched her own blog on Hello magazine's UK website.[8] From 2015 to 2019, Odudu hosted the 4Music programme Trending Live!, with Jimmy Hill and Vick Hope.[9] [10]

She regularly presented the online Facebook quiz game "Confetti" in March and April 2019.

In July 2021, she won the second series of Celebrity Karaoke Club on ITV2. Also in that month, Odudu was confirmed as co-host of a one-off revival edition of The Big Breakfast, presenting alongside the already-announced Mo Gilligan, for Channel 4 in September 2021.[11]

In March 2022, she co-hosted The Great Comic Relief Prizeathon alongside Vernon Kay.

Odudu presented the UK jury points in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022.[12] [13] In June 2022, she was a presenter for the BBC's coverage of the Platinum Jubilee Pageant.[14] On 10 January 2023, it was announced that Odudu would co-host the official handover and semi-final allocation draw for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 that will be broadcast live on BBC Two.[15]

In April 2023, it was announced that Odudu would be hosting the ITV revival of Big Brother, alongside Will Best.[16] [17] Odudu and Best are set to present the spin-off Celebrity Big Brother in 2024.[18]

Strictly Come Dancing

From September 2021, she was a competitor on the nineteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with professional dancer Kai Widdrington.[19] They topped the leaderboard in their first week with a score of 34,[20] and again in week 7, when they scored 39 for their Charleston to "Don't Bring Lulu".[21] [22] The couple also jointly topped the leaderboard in the semi-final, but were forced to withdraw from the competition on 17 December, the day before the final, after Odudu tore a ligament in her right ankle.[23] [24]

Personal life

Odudu lives in southeast London. She is a qualified personal trainer and sports nutritionist, and runs in her spare time.[25] [26]

Filmography

YearTitleRole
2009The Almost Perfect Guide to LifeCo-presenter
The 5:19 ShowCo-presenter
2010Teensville: Teen WitchesPresenter
2011Dirty DigestPanellist
Comedy LabHerself
2012Isle of Wight Festival 2012Co-presenter
2013Big Brother's Bit on the SideCo-presenter
Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the SideCo-presenter
2015–2016The Hot DeskPresenter
2018Manhunting with My MumPresenter
2019The Voice UK Backstage presenter
The Voice Kids Backstage presenter
Contestant
2020Series 4; Episode 1 - Herself
Richard Osman's House of GamesSeries 4; Episodes 16-20 - Herself
Don't Rock the BoatCo-presenter
2021Would I Lie To You?Herself
Celebrity Karaoke ClubWinner
The WheelExpert
Cooking with the StarsContestant
Rolling In ItContestant
Apocalypse WowPresenter
The Big BreakfastCo-presenter
Strictly Come DancingSeries 19
Finalist
Married at First Sight UK

Afters

Presenter
Emma and AJ Get to WorkCo-presenter; alongside Emma Willis
2022The Great Comic Relief PrizeathonCo-presenter; alongside Vernon Kay
Eurovision Song Contest 2022Spokesperson for the UK's votes
The Bridge: Race to a FortunePresenter[27]
Platinum Jubilee PageantPresenter[28]
Rosie Jones' Trip HazardHerself[29]
Red Bull Soapbox Race

London 2022

Co-presenter; alongside Will Best[30]
The Hit ListContestant[31]
RuPaul's Drag Race UKSpecial guest; Series 4
The Last Leg

Christmas Bash

Special guest[32]
The Weakest LinkContestant[33]
2023The Big Interiors BattlePresenter[34]
Time For A Check In Presenter[35]
Eurovision Song Contest 2023

Handover and Allocation Draw

Co-host; alongside Rylan Clark[36]
Pointless CelebritiesContestant[37]
The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake OffHerself[38]
The Greatest AuctionHost[39]
Shopping with Keith LemonHerself; one episode[40]
Big BrotherCo-presenter; alongside Will Best
Big Brother: Late & LiveCo-presenter; alongside Will Best
Mary Makes It EasyGuest[41]
2024Celebrity Big BrotherCo-presenter
Celebrity Big Brother: Late & Live
TBCThe Big Blow OutHost[42]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: A.J. Odudu. www.listal.com. 2020-05-13.
  2. Web site: You Magazine . 5 December 2021 . AJ Odudu interview: I know now that anything is possible . 12 January 2023 . YOU Magazine . en-US.
  3. Web site: AJ Odudu .
  4. Web site: Blackburn's Big Brother presenter AJ Odudu is our bit on the side. This Is Lancashire. 15 July 2013. Newsquest (North West).
  5. Web site: The 5:19 Show. BBC Switch.
  6. News: Blackburn student lands BBC presenting job. Lancashire Telegraph. 5 January 2009. Newsquest (North West).
  7. News: Carol McGiffin lands Celebrity Big Brother job, AJ Odudu gets the chop. Hewett. Emily. 27 November 2013. Metro. DMG Media. 27 November 2013.
  8. Web site: Welcome to my blog! . 3 January 2014. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140103214519/http://blog.hellomagazine.com/ajodudu/2013/08/ . 3 January 2014 . dmy. 28 August 2013 .
  9. Hanging out with the 4Music cool kids, AJ Odudu and James Hill. TMRW. Sam. Nahirny. 14 September 2017. 25 July 2019.
  10. Web site: My TV Show. YouTube. 17 June 2017. 12 June 2019. 18 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211218163359/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=km4t92ZjtHE&gl=US&hl=en. dead.
  11. Web site: The Big Breakfast is making a comeback- and a Blackburn celeb is presenting it. Lancashire Telegraph. 28 July 2021 .
  12. 1519937878834528256. bbceurovision. Ciao Italia, this is SALFORD calling! @AJOdudu will be the first #Eurovision spokesperson to present the UK jury's douze points from the North West. BBC Eurovision.
  13. Web site: Granger . Anthony. 29 April 2022. United Kingdom: AJ Odudu Spokesperson for Eurovision 2022 . 29 April 2022. Eurovoix. en-GB.
  14. Web site: AJ Odudu wears 'matching green outfit' with the Queen at Platinum Jubilee party. 6 June 2022 .
  15. Eurovision Song Contest 2023: Handover and Allocation Draw live on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer. 10 January 2023. BBC.
  16. Web site: Big Brother confirms new hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best for 2023 return. ITVX. 25 April 2023. 25 April 2023.
  17. Web site: Big Brother Presenters Confirmed As AJ Odudu And Will Best. HuffPost. Percival. Ash. 25 April 2023. 25 April 2023.
  18. Web site: Big Brother officially confirms AJ Odudu and Will Best to host reboot. Radio Times. Hibbs. James. 25 April 2023. 25 April 2023.
  19. Web site: BBC One - Strictly Come Dancing - Kai Widdrington . BBC.
  20. Web site: Tom . Horton . Strictly Come Dancing: AJ Odudu wows judges in first week of competition . independent . 26 September 2021 . 3 October 2021.
  21. Web site: BBC One - Strictly Come Dancing, Series 19, Week 7. BBC.
  22. Web site: Strictly Come Dancing fans fuming as star gets 39 despite perfect comments. Melissa. Sigodo. 6 November 2021. MyLondon.
  23. Web site: 17 December 2021 . AJ Odudu and Kai Widdrington are unable to compete in the final . 17 December 2021 . BBC.
  24. Web site: Strictly Come Dancing: AJ Odudu ruled out of final with ankle injury. 17 December 2021 . BBC News . 17 December 2021.
  25. Web site: Magazine . You . 2021-12-05 . AJ Odudu interview: I know now that anything is possible . 2023-01-12 . YOU Magazine . en-US.
  26. Web site: Sellers . Kate . 2021-11-13 . "I've always got my running trainers with me!" Interview with AJ Odudu . 2023-01-12 . Women's Running . en-GB.
  27. Web site: The Bridge: Race to a Fortune. channel4.com. 6 June 2022.
  28. News: McGee . Sarah . AJ Odudu wears 'matching green outfit' with the Queen at Platinum Jubilee party . Lancashire Telegraph . 6 June 2022 .
  29. Web site: Rosie Jones' Trip Hazard. channel4.com. 29 August 2022.
  30. Web site: Red Bull Soapbox Race: London 2022. uktvplay.co.uk. 29 August 2022.
  31. Web site: The Hit List. bbc.co.uk. 24 September 2022.
  32. Web site: Series 26 - Christmas Special. comedy.co.uk. 13 December 2022.
  33. Web site: The Weakest Link . BBC . 1 January 2023 . 27.
  34. Web site: The Big Interiors Battle. www.channel4.com. 26 November 2022.
  35. Web site: Benenden Health teams up with Channel 4 to encourage Brits to check-in on their health Channel 4 . 2023-03-16 . www.channel4.com.
  36. Web site: Eurovision 2023 Handover and Allocation Draw - What to expect and how to watch on BBC Two and iPlayer. BBC. 29 January 2023.
  37. Web site: Pointless Celebrities. BBC. 21 December 2023.
  38. Web site: The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off. The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off. 7 February 2023 . 9 February 2023.
  39. Web site: The Greatest Auction. channel4.com/press. 7 February 2023. 1 June 2023.
  40. Web site: Shopping with Keith Lemon. amazon.co.uk. 30 July 2023.
  41. Web site: Mary Makes It Easy. bbc.co.uk/iplayer. 10 December 2023.
  42. Web site: The Big Blow Out. www.channel4.com. 9 June 2022.

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