TV presenter AJ Odudu has been announced as the third Strictly Come Dancing contestant.

Co-hosts Amol Rajan and Alex Jones revealed the identity of the first three Strictly contestants on tonight’s The One Show on BBC One.

Comparing the series to SAS: Who Dares Win, in which she has also appeared, she said: “It is not climbing a literal mountain but it is definitely going to be challenging.”

She added: “I am beyond chuffed that I am going to be on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing and I'm so glad I can finally tell my mum. Her face will be a picture, she’s going to be over the moon! I absolutely love the show and am fully committed to making the most of every second of the Strictly experience. Bring it on!”

Strictly Come Dancing posted: “She's a total pro when it comes to live TV so she's sure to sparkle on #Strictly! Say hello to presenter AJ Odudu.”

The former St Bede's High School and St Mary's College student had revealed her only her only dance experience was in the nightclubs of Blackburn.

Odudu began her career as a reporter for BBC Blast on Radio Lancashire and went on to co-host the spin-off Big Brother’s Bit On The Side with Emma Willis and Rylan Clark-Neal and produce the documentary Manhunting With My Mum in Nigeria.

The 33-year-old has also done backstage reporting for The Voice UK and The Voice Kids UK.

She is also a qualified personal trainer and sports nutritionist and was appointed as a contributing editor to Grazia magazine in 2021.

Recently she appeared in ITV series Cooking With The Stars and is hosting ITV’s new gameshow Apocalypse Wow which sees celebrities compete in a series of physical challenges in a bid to win money for charity.

She will join Bafta-winning comedian Mo Gilligan to host a one-off special of morning show The Big Breakfast for Channel 4’s Black To Front day in September, a project which celebrates black talent in the TV industry.

McFly star Tom Fletcher was the first celebrity contestant confirmed for this year’s show.

Tom said: “I am so pleased the news is out. It has been so hard keeping it a secret.”

He said he was “equal parts excited and terrified,” adding: “I feel naked without a guitar. I am so used to holding a guitar on stage.”

 

 

Comedian and actor Robert Webb was the second celebrity contestant announced.
He said: “It is very, very exciting but with a slight undertone of quivering terror."

The other 12 contestants are expected to be named in the coming days.

The 19th series is expected to be the normal length, after being slightly shorter in 2020 because of the Covid pandemic.

The BBC said that Bruno Tonioli will be absent from the judges' desk this year, replaced by long-serving professional dancer Anton Du Beke.