Eurovision 2022: Real life of spokesperson AJ Odudu - Strictly heartbreak and therapy after gruelling SAS test
14.05.2022 - 22:13
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
It's an iconic moment that has spanned decades - and this year AJ Odudu will be the famous face handing out those scores on behalf of the UK for the Eurovision Song Contest.
The TV presenter and Strictly Come Dancing star will follow in the footsteps of celebs such as Fearne Cotton, Scott Mills and Amanda Holden to dish out those sought after douze points at this year's competition. But she'll also be making history as, instead of calling from London, she'll be calling from Salford, right here in the north west.
The star, who hails from Blackburn, will become the first spokesperson to do so, with BBC Eurovision confirming this in a tweet which read: "Ciao Italia, this is SALFORD calling!" It might be weird for some fans not to hear London in Salford's place but it's definitely put AJ firmly in the Eurovision history books.
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But aside from making history in the world of European music competitions spanning some 66 years - just who is AJ Odudu? Here's all you need to know before she graces our screens during tonight's Grand Final.
As previous Eurovision spokespeople, such as Scott Mills and Fearne Cotton, prove - you need to be pretty good at presenting when you're chosen to present those all important scores come the night of the Grand Final. Luckily for AJ, she has plenty of practice.
In a career spanning more than a decade, she has had jobs working for the BBC, Channel 4 and even Sky Arts, including co-presenting coverage from the 2012 Isle of Wight Festival, presenting 'Big Brother's Bit on the Side' alongside Rylan Clark-Neal and Emma Willis, as well as 'Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Psych'.
She also hosted the 4Music programme