Blackburn presenter, AJ Odudu, will star alongside Emma Willis in a brand new TV show called ‘Emma and AJ Get To Work’.

In this heart-warming and inspirational UKTV series, the duo are hitting the road and helping family-run businesses across Britain piece their lives back together after an extraordinary year.

But it is not as straightforward as it sounds as each family will face their own unique challenge which will require the duo to learn a new set of skills in the hour-long shows.

The two friends will travel to Wales, Aberdeen, Yorkshire and Cumbria in the four episodes and will be getting stuck into learning brand new skills.

Throwing parties, creating designer candles and mucking in at the farm are just some of the adventures the pair will get up to on in the series.

Former St Bede’s High School pupil, AJ, said she wanted to get involved in the show as she wanted to “lend a hand” to any businesses in need.

She explained: “From a young age my mum has instilled in me a strong work ethic, we have always been taught to work hard and it’s been eye-opening seeing how many different jobs and pressures other people have.

“The last few years have been so tough on business, and we loved the opportunity to go in and lend a hand.”

The 33-year-old added that she can now add sheep shearing to her list of skills – even though she is “not sure how handy that will be in [her] day-to-day life”.

He co-star, Emma Willis, also mentioned that the duo were taught how to make a true and authentic chippy tea.

She explained: “Who knew that making fish and chips is such an art form? You have to put the fish in the fryer in a very specific way and I discovered the existence of chipping machines.

“I had this image in my head of someone out the back peeling spuds and cutting them up because my dad used to do it as a job when he was a kid.

“Turns out there’s a massive machine that does it for you! I’d also never been involved in a festival-style wedding before which was quite amazing, so I feel like I’ve learnt a lot along the way.”

In episode three of the series, Emma and AJ will help to plan a wedding for a soon-to-be-married couple fight back from devastating lockdown losses – AJ said this was one her favourite moments of the show.

Lancashire Telegraph: (L-R) Emma Willis and Blackburn's AJ Odudu to star in ‘Emma and AJ Get To Work’ . ©UKTV(L-R) Emma Willis and Blackburn's AJ Odudu to star in ‘Emma and AJ Get To Work’ . ©UKTV

“I loved being part of a wedding,” she explained. “They always make me cry, and not having been to one while restrictions were in place made it feel even more special.

“We fit so much into that weekend – making beds, making rice crispy cakes, helping paint signs for the wedding party and being the behind the bar, making sure all the guests had their drinks and personalised cups for the day.

“I think we did alright. The day went without a hitch, and we loved being a part of it.”

AJ concluded that the series taught her a lot about running a business; she hopes viewers can take a positive message away from the series.

She explained: “It taught me that running a business is hard work and you get out what you put in.
“As well as passion, you do need support. You can’t do it alone and should never be afraid to ask for help.

“If viewers have a brilliant idea, a new way of doing things, then they should try. [The show] is an example of what is possible if you persevere. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel.”

The first episode airs next Monday (22 November) on W.