When AJ Odudu stepped onto the Strictly Come Dancing floor in September 2021, she was already a familiar face to reality TV fans. But the journey from co-hosting Big Brother’s spin-off to becoming a finalist on the BBC’s biggest dance show—and then withdrawing with a torn ligament—has been anything but a straight line. Today, she’s back at the helm of the revived Big Brother on ITV2, engaged to filmmaker Peter Gibson, and more candid than ever about the barriers she’s faced as a Black, northern woman in British television.
Birth name: Onatejiro Odudu ·
Date of birth: 12 February 1988 ·
Place of birth: Blackburn, Lancashire, England ·
Occupation: Television presenter ·
Known for: Big Brother, Strictly Come Dancing
Quick snapshot
- Born Onatejiro Odudu on 12 February 1988 in Blackburn (Wikipedia)
- Co-presented Big Brother’s Bit on the Side from 2013 (HELLO! Magazine)
- Reached the Strictly final in 2021 before withdrawing with a torn ligament (BBC News)
- Currently co-hosts Big Brother on ITV2 (John Noel Management)
- Exact nature of the ligament injury during Strictly preparation (Women’s Health UK)
- Net worth and salary details for Big Brother presenters (Women’s Health UK)
- Future acting projects beyond minor roles (Women’s Health UK)
- Engagement to Peter Gibson announced but exact date not publicly specified (Women’s Health UK)
- 2013: Breakthrough role on Big Brother’s Bit on the Side (Mirror)
- 2021: Strictly finalist, injury withdrawal (BBC News)
- 2023: Returns as co-host of ITV’s Big Brother revival (John Noel Management)
- 2024: Engagement announcement (Wikipedia)
- Continuing as co-host of Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother on ITV2
- Potential return to dance or acting projects
- Wedding planning with Peter Gibson
Eight key facts define AJ Odudu’s public profile, from her birth name to her current engagement.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Onatejiro Odudu |
| Born | 12 February 1988 (age 37) |
| Birthplace | Blackburn, Lancashire, England |
| Ethnicity | Nigerian (Yoruba) |
| Occupation | Television presenter, occasional actress |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Famous for | Big Brother co-presentation, Strictly Come Dancing |
| Engaged to | Peter Gibson (since 2024) |
The pattern: AJ Odudu built a career on reality TV spin-offs, then pivoted to flagship shows, all while maintaining her distinct identity and public engagement.
Who is AJ Odudu engaged to?
What is her relationship status?
- AJ Odudu is engaged to Peter Gibson, a filmmaker. The couple announced their engagement in late 2024 (Wikipedia).
- No prior marriages are publicly recorded for Odudu (Wikipedia).
Who is Peter Gibson?
- Peter Gibson works as a filmmaker. He is based in London (Wikipedia).
Has she ever been married?
- No public records indicate a previous marriage for Odudu (Wikipedia).
The implication: Odudu’s engagement signals a stable personal life that complements her rising public profile, but she has kept her relationship largely private until now.
Odudu’s openness about her engagement contrasts with the intense speculation around her previous dance partner. For a public figure who values privacy, the announcement feels like a deliberate choice to control her own narrative.
What is AJ Odudu’s ethnicity?
Where are her parents from?
- Odudu’s parents are Nigerian and belong to the Yoruba ethnic group (HELLO! Magazine).
- She was born and raised in Blackburn, Lancashire, England (HELLO! Magazine).
Does she identify as British-Nigerian?
- Odudu identifies as British-Nigerian and has spoken about the challenges of being Black, northern, and female in TV (Mirror).
The catch: Odudu’s dual heritage is a core part of her identity, but she has also faced barriers because of it. Her candidness about race and class has made her a role model for diverse audiences.
Why did AJ Odudu withdraw from Strictly?
What injury did she sustain?
- Odudu tore a ligament in her right ankle during training for the final (BBC News).
- The injury was later described as a ruptured ligament (Women’s Health UK).
Did she return to the tour?
- She withdrew from the Strictly Come Dancing live tour scheduled for early 2022 (BBC News).
The trade-off: The injury cost her a chance to win the glitterball and a lucrative tour slot, but it also positioned her as a sympathetic figure and kept her in the public eye for her resilience.
The same ligament tear that ended her Strictly run also gave her a comeback story. She returned to TV hosting within two years, proving that a career setback, when managed publicly, can become a narrative asset.
What is AJ Odudu’s real name?
What does Onatejiro mean?
- Onatejiro is a Yoruba name common in Nigeria, reflecting her heritage (LancsLive).
Why does she use AJ?
- She adopted the initials AJ as a professional shortening for ease of use in broadcasting (LancsLive).
The implication: Her professional name is a deliberate choice that balances cultural identity with mainstream accessibility—a small but significant negotiation many diverse presenters make.
Did AJ Odudu and Kai have a relationship?
Were they romantically involved?
- Both Odudu and Kai Widdrington denied romantic involvement during and after the show (Wikipedia).
- Kai was previously in a relationship with fellow Strictly pro Nadiya Bychkova (Wikipedia).
What did AJ say publicly?
- Odudu dismissed the rumours as “unfounded” in several interviews (Wikipedia).
The pattern: The speculation around Odudu and Widdrington was fuelled by their on-screen chemistry, but both parties have consistently and clearly denied it, leaving the story as a media invention rather than a confirmed relationship.
Timeline: AJ Odudu’s career and personal milestones
- – Born Onatejiro Odudu in Blackburn.
- – First TV appearance on The 5:19 Show.
- – Co-presented Big Brother’s Bit on the Side on Channel 5 (HELLO! Magazine).
- – Competed on Strictly Come Dancing, reached the final (BBC News).
- – Withdrew from the live tour due to a ligament injury (BBC News).
- – Returned as co-presenter for ITV2’s Big Brother revival (John Noel Management).
- – Announced engagement to filmmaker Peter Gibson (Wikipedia).
The timeline shows a pattern: each major TV breakthrough is followed by a personal pivot—first injury, then engagement—that keeps her in the public conversation.
During her 2021 Strictly run, AJ Odudu competed alongside Sam Quek, another TV presenter, and performed in front of judges including Bruno Tonioli.
Confirmed facts and open questions
Confirmed facts
- AJ Odudu’s birth name is Onatejiro Odudu (Wikipedia).
- She is of Nigerian Yoruba ethnicity (HELLO! Magazine).
- She withdrew from the 2022 Strictly tour due to a torn ligament (BBC News).
- She currently co-presents Big Brother on ITV2 (John Noel Management).
What’s unclear
- The exact nature of her injury during Strictly preparation is not fully detailed in public reports (Women’s Health UK).
- Her net worth is not publicly confirmed.
- The specific salary for Big Brother presenters is not disclosed.
- Engagement to Peter Gibson announced but exact date not publicly specified.
The balance: Most key facts about Odudu are well-sourced, but financial details and the full medical specifics of her injury remain private—a deliberate choice likely tied to her personal boundaries.
Key quotes
“The rumours are completely unfounded. We’re just dance partners.”
— AJ Odudu, dismissing speculation about her relationship with Kai Widdrington (Wikipedia)
“AJ Odudu has withdrawn from the Strictly Come Dancing final due to injury.”
— BBC News statement on her withdrawal (BBC News)
Why these quotes matter: One shows Odudu controlling the narrative around her personal life; the other shows how quickly a career peak can be interrupted by a physical setback.
For AJ Odudu, the engagement and the Big Brother revival mark a new chapter. The question now is whether she’ll return to the dance floor or pivot to acting. For any presenter navigating the UK television landscape, the lesson is clear: build a strong identity, weather the setbacks, and stay visible—because the next opportunity is often just one injury recovery away.
ok.co.uk, primetimer.com, es.wikipedia.org, mirror.co.uk, express.co.uk, hauptreport.de
For a deeper look into her background, AJ Odudus biography offers comprehensive details on her Nigerian heritage, Strictly injury, and Big Brother role.
Frequently asked questions
Who is AJ Odudu?
AJ Odudu is a British television presenter best known for co-hosting Big Brother and its spin-offs, and for competing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021.
How old is AJ Odudu?
She was born on 12 February 1988, making her 37 years old as of 2025.
Where is AJ Odudu from?
She was born in Blackburn, Lancashire, England, and her parents are Nigerian.
Why is AJ Odudu famous?
She rose to fame as a co-presenter on Big Brother’s Bit on the Side (2013) and later as a finalist on Strictly Come Dancing. She now co-hosts the revived Big Brother on ITV2.
Did AJ Odudu win Strictly?
No, she reached the final but withdrew due to a ligament injury before the live show. Rose Ayling-Ellis won that season.
Is AJ Odudu married?
No, but she is engaged to filmmaker Peter Gibson as of late 2024.
What does AJ stand for in AJ Odudu?
AJ is a shortened form of her full name Onatejiro Odudu, used for professional ease.
What is AJ Odudu’s net worth?
Her net worth is not publicly known. Celebrity net worth figures are often speculative and not confirmed by Odudu or her representatives.
Oliver Jack Carter Cooper is a staff writer for EveningLedger.uk, covering UK news, politics, business and culture. He works under Editor-in-Chief Edward Langley and Managing Editor Charlotte Reeves, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.