Television presenter AJ Odudu is set to ring in the new year on Channel 4's The Last Leg of The Year tonight. Born in Blackburn to Nigerian Parents, the 36-year-old has become a well-known face on the small screen, particularly recognised for presenting Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother.
AJ, whose full name is Onatejiro, has dreamed of working in television since she was a child. "When I was about six years old, I remember saying to my mum: ‘I want to get inside the TV, how do I do it?’" she told The Guardian in 2023. Despite her desire to enter the industry, she followed the traditional path for many teenagers and attended Keele University, where she studied English and Politics. With her education secured, AJ kickstarted a glittering television career.
AJ's first media job was as a reporter for BBC Radio Lancashire before transitioning into presenting on BBC Two’s The Almost Perfect Guide to Life. She maintained her momentum with various presenting stints on the BBC and Channel 4. She landed her breakthrough in 2013 as a co-presenter on Channel 5's Big Brother's Bit on the Side and Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side.
The opportunity allowed her to work alongside TV giants Emma Willis and Rylan Clark. However, she was axed after one year on the show and replaced by former Loose Women star Carol McGiffin. AJ was devastated, in a 2023 interview with The Times, she expressed: "It more than stung. I cried for months. I was so, so upset. I felt, like, gosh, what am I going to do?".
