AJ Odudu opens up on surprise celebrity DMs since becoming Big Brother host
AJ ODUDU says she has been inundated with Instagram messages since being hired for the Big Brother reboot – but not with the eligible bachelors she’s looking for.
Instead the woman of the moment has been besieged by show fans — and singers Jedward, who once appeared on the celeb version of the show.
AJ, who will co-host the show with pal Will Best, laughed: “Yeah my DMs are popping off — but sadly not in the way I would want them to!
“But the fans have all been really amazing — seeing so many people have opinions, the buzz, the excitement, the anticipation.
“I got a message off Jedward — I heard one they sent Will and so I was like ‘Oh! I want one’.”
Will said: “Jedward sent me a lovely heartfelt song and they said ‘Sending you all the Jepic energy in the world.’
“I’m going to listen to it just before we go on! That’s the last thing I want to hear before the producer in my ear.”
AJ and Will, who have been great pals for years, have just five days before they launch ITV’s reboot of the legendary reality show.
But she reckons having each other to lean on has lightened the load.
AJ said: “This is such a big show, it would normally feel like such a daunting thing to take on, but knowing I’ve got Will by my side I’m so excited to get started.”
They’ve already warned that they won’t be delivering the “old Big Brother” because times have changed. But some familiar phrases will remain.
Will said: “Obviously, it’s making sure the parts of the show we all know and love are there, but it’s going to have a new, fresh feel because it’s new, fresh people who are a product of 2023, not 2018, and the world has changed. People are a lot more savvy nowadays.”
‘Social experiment’
AJ added: “There’s bound to be arguments. It’s a social experiment with a bunch of people who you’d never usually meet, thrown into the most surreal, unique situation.
“Contractually we’re obliged to say ‘Please do not swear’ when you’re on live TV.
“So I can’t wait to say that, but hope that me and Will come up with our own catchphrases.”
Big Brother: The Launch begins on Sunday at 9pm on ITV1, ITV2 and ITVX.
BEN IN POLE POSITION
BEN FOGLE’s plan to trek to the South Pole using Edwardian equipment sounds barmy, and he agrees – but the adventurer has blamed turning 50.
He will recreate the Antarctic expeditions of Robert Falcon Scott, Sir Ernest Shackleton and Roald Amundsen with fellow explorer Dwayne Fields for Channel 5, using the same ancient clothing, food and shelter.
Discussing Endurance: Race to the Pole, he told me: “ I think it’s time to do stuff that genuinely moves and motivates others.
“Turning 50 is that moment where you start looking back on your past, you start looking at the things that maybe you didn’t appreciate at the time.
“I wouldn’t call it a mid-life crisis, but I would call it just a reflection on what I’ve done over the last 25 years.”
I think I’d rather buy myself a red Ferrari.
THE nation breathed a sigh of relief as Love Island muscle mountain Jay Younger gave an update on the status of his pec after tearing it in a sweaty gym session.
“I’ll be back at it after a bit of rehab,” he assured fans in a message and bedside pic that, naturally, meant he had to take his top off.
DOI N-ICE STEP FOR TV MILES
MADE in Chelsea hunk Miles Nazaire is in talks to appear in ITV’s Dancing On Ice.
He wants to be a rink icon like former reality stars Joey Essex, Jake Quickenden and Kem Cetinay.
But he’d be joining amid a fan backlash, after he was slammed over “misogynistic” comments about his sex life on a podcast.
A source said: “Miles wants to do something outside his comfort zone – he can ski, but he’s not exactly a natural on skates.
“He wants to leave the drama of reality TV behind and Dancing On Ice could help.”
Miles is set to join confirmed stars Greg Rutherford, Amber Davies, Claire Sweeney, Ricky Hatton and Hannah Spearritt on the show.
ITV1 have confirmed a new series of Family Fortunes – and that Gino D’Acampo will be returning to hosting duties on the gameshow.
Announcing the ten-part series, the fourth season of the rebooted version, the cheeky Italian said: “I’m looking forward to hearing all the interesting and silly answers.”