AJ Ododu Shares ‘Blessings’ From Davina McCall As She Hosts Big Brother Reboot And Recalls ‘She Fell Into A Deep Depression’ After The BBBOTS Ax
AJ Ododu has shared the ‘blessing’ she received from ‘Big Brother Queen’ Davina McCall when it was announced she would be hosting the reboot.
The Strictly star, 35, reflected on her career and misadventures in a new interview in which she also recalled “fell into a deep depression” after being cut from Big Brother’s Bit On The Side.
AJ said she has now “found her way back” after “so much rejection” and reflected on how far she’s come.
The former T4 presenter will helm the reality show when it returns to screens on ITV2 this autumn after previously being dropped from the spin-off and being dragged over her Blackburn accent in 2013.
Speaking to Grazia magazine this week, AJ shared the reassuring advice she received from Davina as she prepared for her return.
Amazing: AJ Ododu, 35, has shared the ‘blessing’ she received from ‘Big Brother Queen’ Davina McCall when it was announced she would be hosting the reboot
“The Queen herself has given me her blessing. She sent me a great video when I got the gig saying, “You’re going to smash it,” she explained.
AJ said she was “proud” of her return after being “in a really dark place” and “didn’t want to get out of bed.”
She admitted, “I found my way back without being terrible, just by working hard and being myself. Then I didn’t even want to get out of bed.
“I fell into a deep depression because TV just wasn’t to my liking. Five years ago I lived on my father’s bedroom floor in a council flat. I was like, “I don’t live where you think I live and I don’t do what you think.” I felt like an impostor.’
AJ and Will Best were announced as the hosts of the brand new Big Brother reboot back in April.
They will share the iconic starring role, as well as an additional nightly live show, discussing all the hot topics around the house.
A source told MailOnline: “They have real, real chemistry and it was an absolute no-brainer when they were tested.”
Of her new role, AJ said, “I’m so excited to finally be able to say that, yes: I’m hosting Big Brother! I couldn’t be happier.’
Icon: ‘The Queen herself has given me her blessing. She sent me a great video that said, “You’re going to bust it,” explained AJ (Davina pictured on the show in 2002)
Dropped: The Strictly star reflected on her career and misadventures in a new interview where she also recalled that she “fell into a deep depression” after being cut from Big Brother’s Bit On The Side (pictured alongside Emma Willis and Rylan Clark in 2013)
Return: AJ said she was “proud” of her return after being in “a really dark place” and “didn’t want to get out of bed” (pictured with co-host Will Best)
She added: ‘It’s an absolute honor to follow in the footsteps of some of my favorite broadcasting legends to lead such an iconic show – and to do this with my amazing friend Will is the icing on the cake. ‘
During an appearance on ITV’s Lorraine, 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 it hasn’t always been that way, has it?’
AJ replied, “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 everything is incredible.”