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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Alan Johnson

Strictly Come Dancing star 'agrees to host Big Brother reboot' in major ITV shake-up

Presenter AJ Odudu is currently finalising terms with ITV bosses to become the new host of Big Brother - following in the footsteps of Davina McCall and Emma Willis.

The former Strictly Come Dancing contestant is set to put pen to paper on her biggest role to date, according to the Sun.

The 34-year-old does have previous experience with the show, however, having co-presented spin-off Big Brother's Bit On The Side alongside Emma and Rylan Clark in 2013.

The original reality TV programme has been absent from our screens since 2018 when previous broadcaster Channel 5 announced it wouldn't be renewing its contract for a 20th UK series.

AJ previously presented Big Brother's Bit On The Side (Brett D. Cove / SplashNews.com)
The 34-year old said it was hard to find TV work at the beginning of her career due to being 'black, northern and female' (Brett D. Cove / SplashNews.com)

A source told the same publication: "AJ has been offered the Big Brother job and jumped at the opportunity. It’s a huge boost to her career.

"AJ and ITV are still ironing out details in her contract but she has told a lot of people the job is hers."

She reportedly beat off competition from the likes of Alison Hammond, Emily Atack and Radio DJ Vick Hope to land the role, meanwhile.

It marks a far cry from the early days of AJ's career - a time she said it was tricky to get TV work due to being 'black, northern and female'.

Speaking earlier this year she said: "I found it tricky to navigate my way around a space that sometimes made me feel ‘other’.

"My accent was a big thing, but what was confusing was there were other regional accents – Nick Grimshaw and Annie Mac were on BBC Sounds.

"It was more that I was Black and northern, rather than just northern. It was hard for people to get over that. It was a lot being Black, female and northern all at once.

"It was tricky at times. I did doubt myself because I was essentially being told to not be me. But all you can do is lean on your support network.

"There are so many people who do see the good in you."

Born in Lancashire to Nigerian parents, AJ is one of eight children and went into TV after graduating from Keele University.

Mirror Online has invited representatives for AJ and ITV to comment.

Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@mirror.co.uk or call us direct 0207 29 33033.

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