AJ Odudu is a well known British TV presenter who was born in Blackburn, Lancashire to Nigerian parents.
AJ has presented a number of popular shows including Big Brother’s Bit On The Side, Don’t Rock The Boat and Apocalypse Wow.
She also hosted the backstage content for The Voice UK and The Voice Kids. In her latest TV gig, AJ will be joining Strictly Come Dancing.
Who is AJ Odudu?
AJ Odudu , real name Onatejiro 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 immigrated to England 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.
Odudu attended St Bede’s RC High School and St Mary’s College in Blackburn. She later graduated with a degree in English and Politics from Keele University.
Career
AJ 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 and on The 5:19 Show, an online show on the BBC website, having previously served as the latter’s ‘raving reporter’.
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.
In June 2013, Odudu began presenting Big Brother’s Bit on the Side with Rylan Clark-Neal 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.
In August 2013, Odudu launched her own blog on Hello magazine’s UK website. From 2015 to 2019, Odudu hosted the 4Music programme Trending Live!, with Jimmy Hill and Vick Hope.
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, AJ 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.
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.
In June 2022 she was a presenter for the BBC’s coverage of the Platinum Jubilee Pageant.
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.
In April 2023, it was announced that AJ Odudu would be hosting the ITV revival of Big Brother, alongside Will Best.
All about AJ Odudu family
AJ Odudu parents
AJ Odudu was born to her Nigerian parents, Florence and James Odudu . Her parents had an arranged marriage, for which her mother immigrated to England 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.
AJ Odudu siblings
AJ Odudu comes from a big family and has seven siblings.
Who is AJ Odudu dating?
The star is believed to not have a boyfriend at present. Last year, she spoke to Mail Online about how the pandemic had affected her chances of dating, saying:
“I have been all alone, I didn’t move back in with family, I didn’t see anyone… and then just as I was getting out there, lockdown two happened and now I’m just focused on work.”
You are free to share this article via the various social media platforms. Kindly follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
