AJ Odudu signed for FOURTH big TV job of the year as host of new BBC show Picture Slam
FORMER Strictly contender AJ Odudu crashed out of last year’s final – but now she is looking like the real winner as she waltzes into FOUR new presenting roles.
She is already fronting Channel 4’s The Bridge, but I can reveal the broadcaster is also set to sign her up for E4’s The Big Blow Out and C4’s Married At First Sight, which both air later this year.
And as if that wasn’t enough, AJ will appear in another BBC show, Picture Slam, which is currently in development.
A TV insider said: “She was always going to go on to bigger things after her profile soared on Strictly, but nobody would have expected her to get so much work so quickly.
“It seems there was something of a scramble to sign AJ up for shows after she became a viewer favourite on the last series of Strictly.
“As is often the case with the show, it isn’t always the person who takes home the Glitterball trophy who gets the most job offers afterwards.”
AJ made the final three on the series but a foot injury forced her to leave the final in December and also put her out of the show’s live UK tour.
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But that meant she could jet to Vietnam to co-host The Bridge, which sees a group of strangers forced together to build a bridge to try to win a share of a £100,000 prize.
Meanwhile E4’s The Big Blow Out follows the same format as The Great British Bake Off, and is made by the same production company, but it challenges hair stylists, rather than cooks.
And Married At First Sight UK is a huge hit for E4, with channel bosses renewing it for two further series, with the next season running to 30 episodes.
AJ has previously been a contestant on a string of challenge shows including Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, Cooking With The Stars and The Chase.
But the Lancs lass, who is one of eight children, has now switched from contender to presenter — times four.
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ITV’s hit drama Trigger Point will return for a second six-part series in 2023, with Vicky McClure reprising her role of bomb disposal expert Lana Washington.
The finale of the first series, produced by Line Of Duty’s Jed Mercurio, aired last night.
PADDY’S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
TV host Paddy McGuinness has given another insight into the challenges of raising children with autism.
The Top Gear presenter, who has three kids with wife Christine recalled how tricky it was to get his kids to eat breakfast before they were diagnosed.
Speaking on new podcast Table Talk With Paddy And Christine, produced in partnership with McCain and charity Family Fund, Paddy said: “I couldn’t get the kids to eat anything.
"I’d be stressed out thinking: ‘If the teachers find out, they’ve not had any breakfast!’
"I’d be worried they’d be looking at me, going: ‘Oh, God, they are sending them out with no breakfast, this is just a bad parent.’”
Fortunately Paddy and wife Christine have got a better handle on the eating habits of their kids, and they are now top of the class at school.
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THE colourful life of soul legend James Brown will be explored in a four-part docuseries produced by Sir Mick Jagger.
Called James Brown: Say It Loud, it’s expected to arrive in 2023 for what would have been the 90th birthday of the singer, who died in 2006.
Patsy's in a spin
ALBERT Square is long behind Patsy Palmer, who now makes a living as a DJ in Los Angeles.
The actress, best known for playing Bianca Jackson in EastEnders, was photographed on the decks at the launch of an art exhibition on Saturday.
And Patsy clearly has a religious dedication to her music.
She wrote on Instagram: “When I feel low, and overwhelmed I play music and pray.
"When I have music to pray with it intensifies my emotion.”
Cillian on fast track
PEAKY Blinders is back on our telly menu – with some surprising revelations.
Cillian Murphy has revealed his character, Tommy Shelby, has never been seen eating.
He told the Screen Time podcast: “We had got through the first two series and then we realised that we’ve never seen Tommy eat.
"He’s sat down at tables but he’s never consumed a morsel.
“So then we made it a kind of a running gag.
“Throughout the 36 hours of television, Tommy Shelby never consumes anything except I think a sprig of mint when he’s with his son.
“These things develop when you have the luxury of being with the character for so long.”
DEBORAH A GREEN GODDESS
YOU would be forgiven for thinking Dragon’s Den original Deborah Meaden was fairly set in her ways.
But the millionaire will be joining the likes of Greta Thunberg with a new “eco-friendly podcast” to champion green issues.
She told me: “I am going to have CEOs on from big companies talking about the environment and how we can be more eco-friendly.
“I will be doing the interviewing, but the purpose is to make it light-hearted. I wanted to do this to make a difference.”
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The first episode of The Big Green Money Show will air on BBC Sounds on Friday March 4.
But she isn’t turning her back on Dragon’s Den just yet – filming for the new series will begin in April.
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STRICTLY host Tess Daly has teased how her husband Vernon Kay could one day compete on the BBC show.
She said: “When I first met Vernon, I was impressed by his dancing skills.
"As of late, it’s mostly been at home, doing the kitchen disco but who knows?”