AJ Odudu revealed her ‘confidence was knocked’ when she first started her television career as she was told to ‘take elocution lessons’ for her Northern accent.

The Big Brother presenter, 36, admitted it was ‘daunting’ being told to change who she is in her early career as she wanted to make it in the industry.

However, the star, who hails from Blackburn, ‘turned down’ the offer to be taught to change her accent.

Speaking to Radio Times, she said: ‘I was encouraged to take elocution lessons early in my career and I’m so glad I turned them down.

‘It was daunting because I wasn’t booked or busy. I work in an industry where you’d do just about anything to get your voice heard and get yourself out there, but I knew if I wanted my voice to be heard, it would have to be in my accent.’

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AJ Odudu revealed her ‘confidence was knocked’ when she first started her television career as she was told to ‘take elocution lessons’ for her Northern accent

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The Big Brother presenter admitted it was ‘daunting’ being told to change who she is in her early career as she wanted to make it in the industry

‘Being encouraged to change who I was, when people question your accent or your mannerisms, it does knock your confidence because you question yourself and how you present yourself.’

AJ presented Big Brother’s Big On The Side back in 2013 and at the time was left traumatised after online bullies branded her the ‘black girl with a dodgy accent.’

She said she was ‘so excited’ about the gig but ‘didn’t get asked to come back’ for the series the year after which also left her ‘so upset’.

Despite the setback, AJ said it taught her to ‘have a lot of grace when facing defeat’ and has forced her to push herself out of her comfort zone to move forward in her career.

AJ has since returned to Big Brother as host alongside Will Best, with Celebrity Big Brother kicking off on Monday night.

The former Strictly Come Dancing star grew up in Lancashire, and studied English and Politics at Keele University before starting a job at Radio Lancashire.

The Don’t Rock The Boat host used to say to her mother when she was young: ‘I want to be inside the TV’ and did everything she can to fulfill her dream, including working for free when she had no money.

She said that being on Strictly in 2021 was a dream come true after she had to save up for the train to get to London for auditions and had to search auditions on a library computer.

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AJ has returned to Big Brother as host alongside Will Best , with Celebrity Big Brother kicking off on Monday night

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Speaking to Radio Times, she said: ‘I was encouraged to take elocution lessons early in my career and I’m so glad I turned them down’ (pictured Lenny Henry on this weeks Radio Times cover)