Celebrity Big Brother’s AJ Odudu signs new deal with ITV to bring back popular show with Vernon Kay
CELEBRITY Big Brother host AJ Odudu has bagged a new ITV deal – and she’s teaming up with Vernon Kay once again to bring back one of the nation’s favourite shows.
The nationwide search for the next great designer is back, and the series will document the search process from start to finish.
The telly duo are back to front second series of M&S: Dress The Nation later this year on ITV1 and ITVX.
Wannabe designers will go head-to-head for the ultimate style gig – a dream job at M&S!
In a brand new series, ten hopefuls will battle it out over six sizzling episodes for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to land a coveted in-house design role at the high street giant’s swanky Paddington HQ.
Forget fancy degrees – M&S want raw talent, passion, and a creative spark.
Contestants from all walks of life will take on a string of fashion challenges, from trend-spotting to sketching and sewing, as they try to impress the judges and bag the job.
Working from a glitzy purpose-built studio, they’ll be pushed to the limit with briefs straight from M&S’ real design process – and only one can win.
Fashion icons and celeb guests will join senior bosses each week to decide who slays the runway and who gets the chop – with the winner snapping up a junior designer role tailored just for them.
The show’s first series was fronted by Celebrity Big Brother faves AJ Odudu and Vernon Kay.
AJ Odudu’s telly takeover continues after landing new ITV deal – over a decade after Big Brother breakthrough.
The TV favourite has come a long way since first bursting onto screens in 2013 on Big Brother’s Bit on the Side.
After stints on The Voice UK, Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins and Strictly Come Dancing, where she waltzed her way to the final with pro partner Kai Widdrington, AJ has become a household name.
Last year she co-hosted The Big Eurovision Welcome and returned to her Big Brother roots to front ITV2’s reboot of Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother with Will Best – and now she’s not slowing down.
Meanwhile, Vernon Kay has become a familiar face on our screens over the last two decades.
The TV star kicked off his showbiz journey as a model before making the leap to presenting, fronting youth telly staple T4 on Channel 4 and going on to helm primetime favourites like All Star Family Fortunes on ITV.
Who is AJ Odudu?
IF you want to know more about AJ Odudu, we've got you covered...
AJ Odudu was born Onatejiro Odudu on February 12, 1988.
She was born in Blackburn, Lancashire, to Nigerian parents and is one of eight children.
AJ has become one of the most in-demand TV stars in the UK.
AJ graduated from Keele University with a degree in English and politics and then started her career as a reporter for BBC Blast at Radio Lancashire.
Her first presenting role was in 2009 on BBC Two’s The Almost Perfect Guide to Life.
In 2013, she joined Emma Willis and Rylan Clark on Big Brother’s Bit On The Side, as well as Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit On The Psych.
She also presented on The Hot Desk from 2015 to 2016, and Manhunting With My Mum in 2018.
In 2020, she appeared in The Chase: Celebrity Special, Bake Off: An Extra Slice, Richard Osman’s House of Games and Don’t Rock The Boat.
In 2021, AJ hosted Apocalypse Wow on ITV2 and a revamp of The Big Breakfast on Channel 4.
In 2022, she was brought in as the presenter of The Bridge, alongside adventurer Aldo Kane, and she hosted the revamped Big Breakfast with Mo Gilligan.
In October 2022, she hosted E4’s The Big Blow Out.
She also appeared alongside Rylan Clark when they hosted the Eurovision Handover and Allocation Draw.
AJ also took part in The Great Celebrity Bake Off 2023 alongside Jesy Nelson and Paddy McGuinness, to name a few.
She was announced as the host of the rebooted Big Brother alongside Will Best in 2023.
The pair are back on the box for the return of the new series on Sunday 6, October, with a revamped reality house.
He’s also been a regular voice on BBC Radio 1, Radio X and now Radio 2 – all while squeezing in stints hosting Formula E and battling it out in the Aussie jungle on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
More recently, he became a presenter on ITV’s This Morning, and as a keen golfer, he regularly plays on the Legends Tour Celebrity Series.
Now, Vernon’s back teaming up with pal AJ Odudu as they prepare to launch another season of their ITV show.
Dress The Nation is available to watch now on ITVX.