AJ Odudu breaks her silence on Big Brother hosting rumours
AJ Odudu broke her silence when she became the new host of the rebooted Big Brother.
The former Strictly Come Dancing star will reportedly team up with Will Best, who is best known for presenting T4 and hosting talent show Dance Dance Dance.
During an appearance on ITV’s Lorraine on Wednesday, AJ explained that she’s been ‘grafted’ into big opportunities over the past 15 years.
Lorraine asked AJ, “Your name stands for a lot of things in the ring. But that wasn’t always the case, was it?’
AJ responded, “I’ve been grafting for a long time. 15 years. It’s so great to not only have shows like the big interior battle, but to have my name tipped for something is incredible.”
‘I’m grafting’: AJ Odudu has broken her silence as she became the new host of the rebooted Big Brother
Outspoken: During an appearance on ITV’s Lorraine on Wednesday, AJ explained that she’s been ‘grafted’ into big opportunities over the past 15 years
Big Brother returns to screens this autumn, in its new home on ITV2.
A source told The Sun on Monday: “AJ has known since last year that the Big Brother job was hers, but she is waiting for confirmation from her co-host.
“AJ and Will did a brilliant screen test together and their chemistry was brilliant. It was a good idea. They are also good friends, so it is very exciting to work together.
“They couldn’t be more excited about joining forces to bring Big Brother back.”
An ITV representative told MailOnline that ‘no talent has currently been confirmed for the show and announcements will be made in due course.’
It was previously reported that Emily Atack, 32, and Vick Hope, 33, are duking it out to host the show and have been in talks with TV bosses for several weeks, along with fellow hopeful Roman Kemp, 29.
Last week, one of the favorites to take on the role of presenter, R ylan Clark, had to deny signing on to host.
On his BBC Radio 2 show on Saturday, Rylan told listeners that the reason he had stopped presenting Strictly It Takes Two was because he wanted a break: ‘So I want to say publicly to the whole Strictly family : I have loved you dearly for the past four years,’ he said.
‘Can I also please confirm, I see all the rumours. Please continue your rumours, I’m not going anywhere baby.
“It was just my time to say thank you and you know, go, and I don’t know, sit inside my pajamas for a while.”
Lorraine asked AJ, “Your name stands for a lot of things in the ring. But that wasn’t always the case, was it?’
AJ responded, “I’ve been grafting for a long time. 15 years. It’s so great to not only have shows like the big interior battle, but to have my name tipped for something is incredible.”
Stunning: AJ looked typically classy in a blue tweed cropped blazer and miniskirt, paired with cream knee-high boots
Presenter: The former Strictly Come Dancing star will be teaming up with Will, who is best known for presenting T4 and hosting talent show Dance Dance Dance
After Rylan made his announcement about quitting It Takes Two, many fans took to the comment section to ponder whether Rylan would be stepping down in favor of the Big Brother hosting gig – but he quickly stopped speculating.
One TV fan account wrote, “Not that I’m jumping to conclusions or anything, but I’m JUMPING…IT Takes Two would always clash with Big Brother?”
Rylan replied, “You’re jumping unfortunately” (sic).
Big Brother was confirmed to be returning to screens when a teaser aired during the Love Island 2022 finale in August.
The civilian edition of the program was last broadcast on Channel 5 in 2018.
The rebooted series was originally set to air in March, but the program was delayed due to the number of entertainment shows airing on ITV in early 2023, such as winter Love Island and the All Stars edition of I’m A Celebrity.. . Get me out of here!.
An ITV spokesperson told MailOnline late last year that “due to the influx of big reality TV programming in the first half of 2022, we have made the decision to move the Big Brother broadcast to a more prominent place in the autumn to be moved’.
“This gives our viewers a whole calendar of major reality TV formats all year round.”
MailOnline understands that the show is still airing on ITV2 and ITVX and that the casting for the civilian series has been extended to the summer.
Big Brother began as a social experiment in 2000 and has become a staple of popular culture.
Ordinary members of the public entered the iconic home and rose to fame as they were watched 24/7 by the British public. while a celebrity version of the show featuring celebrity housemates also ran from 2000 onwards.
Exciting: Big Brother was confirmed to be returning to screens when a teaser aired during the Love Island 2022 finale in August.
“It’s all a bit chaotic right now!” ITV’s Big Brother reboot has reportedly plunged into chaos after the reality show’s comeback was delayed to autumn 2023 (Davina McCall pictured in 2002)
The experiment captured the hearts of millions, who could even tune into the 24-hour live feed at night.
It first aired on Channel 4 from 2000 to 2010 and was hosted by Davina McCall, 54, before moving to Channel 5 until 2018, where it was presented by series two winner Brian Dowling, 43, and later Emma Willis, 46 .
The show featured a number of iconic moments over the years, with a whopping 3.5 million people voting for Liverpudlian builder Craig Phillips from Seaforth, Merseyside to win the £70,000 prize in 2000 at the end of the first series .
It averaged 5.8 million viewers per episode in its third season – but the numbers dropped to just 2.9 million per episode in 2009 thanks to contests inspired by the shows it spawned, such as The Only Way Is Essex.