AJ Odudu: Age, Fiancé, Family, Strictly and I’m a Celeb Rumours
AJ Odudu is a 38-year-old TV presenter from Blackburn who co-hosts Big Brother on ITV2 with Will Best and reached the Strictly final in 2021. She is in talks to join I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in November 2026, although ITV has not confirmed it. She got engaged in June 2025 and does not have children.
Why is AJ Odudu trending?
She is one of the most talked-about names for this year’s I’m a Celebrity line-up, with the series due to start in mid-November and ITV yet to reveal its campmates.
Is AJ Odudu going on I’m a Celebrity 2026?
Not confirmed. The Sun reported in September that she was in talks and had told ITV bosses she was “keen as mustard”, and had assured them she could meet the show’s requirements. ITV says any names linked to the show are “pure speculation”, and it usually reveals campmates only days before launch. Ricky Wilson has been linked to the same series.
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Who is AJ Odudu engaged to?
AJ announced her engagement on Instagram on 23 June 2025, sharing photos of her diamond ring and her partner with the caption “Hiya love”. It was the first time she had gone public with the relationship. She has not named him herself, but the Daily Mail has reported that he is Peter Gibson, an American art director. No wedding date has been announced.
Does AJ Odudu have children?
No, AJ does not have any children.
How old is AJ Odudu?
AJ Odudu is 38. She was born Onatejiro Odudu on 12 February 1988 in Blackburn, Lancashire, and went to St Bede’s RC High School and St Mary’s College in the town before studying English and politics at Keele University, graduating in 2009.
20152026Who are AJ Odudu’s parents?
Her parents, Florence and James, are Nigerian. Her mum came to the UK in the 1970s for an arranged marriage and worked as a seamstress, cleaner and dinner lady, while her dad was a bus conductor. AJ is one of eight children, five boys and three girls.
What happened to AJ Odudu on Strictly?
AJ was one of the stars of Strictly 2021 with partner Kai Widdrington. They topped the leaderboard in week 1 with 34, scored 39 for a Charleston to Don’t Bring Lulu in week 7, and were joint top in the semi-final. But on 17 December, the day before the final, she pulled out after tearing a ligament in her right ankle, so the couple never got to dance for the Glitterball.
Does AJ Odudu present Big Brother?
Yes. She has co-hosted the Big Brother revival with Will Best since ITV brought it back in 2023, and they also front Celebrity Big Brother, which returned in 2024. The latest series began on ITV2 on 13 September 2026. It is a return to the franchise for AJ, who first co-presented spin-off Big Brother’s Bit on the Side with Rylan Clark and Emma Willis in 2013.
What TV shows has AJ Odudu presented?
AJ started as a BBC Blast reporter at BBC Radio Lancashire and presented The Almost Perfect Guide to Life on BBC Two in 2009. She went on to host Trending Live! on 4Music, revived The Big Breakfast with Mo Gilligan in 2021 and hosted Married at First Sight: Afters.
| Year | Show | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | The Big Breakfast | Channel 4 |
| 2022 | The Bridge: Race to a Fortune | Channel 4 |
| 2023 | The Big Interiors Battle | Channel 4 |
| 2023 to now | Big Brother | ITV2 |
| 2024 to 2025 | M&S: Dress the Nation | Channel 4 |
| 2025 | Comic Relief | BBC One |
| 2026 | Gladiators: Celebrity Special | BBC One |
What is AJ Odudu’s net worth?
There is no reliable published figure, and her Big Brother salary has not been made public, so we do not repeat the guesses on net worth websites. Her income comes from presenting work across ITV, Channel 4 and the BBC, plus brand deals and advertising.
AJ Odudu rumours, checked
AJ and Will Best are not a couple. They are Big Brother co-presenters, and she is engaged to someone else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. She won ITV2's Celebrity Karaoke Club in July 2021.
Yes. She read out the UK jury points at Eurovision 2022 and co-hosted the 2023 handover ceremony with Rylan Clark.
She is a qualified personal trainer and sports nutritionist, and runs in her spare time.
She has lived in London for years, though she often talks about her Blackburn roots.