The Voice presenter and fitness pro AJ Odudu on morning motivation and how to do a plank

British TV presenter AJ Odudu was born in Blackburn and is best-known for her presenting gigs on 4 Music and Channel 5’s Big Brother's Bit On The Side.

She also recently presented Manhunting With My Mum, a Channel 4 documentary about a road trip to Nigeria with her mother, Florence, where she was prepped to find a husband according to her mother’s Nigerian traditions.

Off-camera AJ is also a trained fitness expert and sports nutritionist, and prides herself on being a fitness class-hopping enthusiast. “Variety works for me and the reason I’ve been able to maintain a certain level of fitness is because when I get bored I just admit I’m bored, then I switch it up."

“The first thing I do in the morning is run up to Greenwich Park and see the views of London, it’s what keeps me motivated... though sometimes it gets too cold and starts raining” she says.

To keep up the workout momentum for winter, AJ says “running and pilates work hand-in-hand together, and to get a good sweat on, boxing is a great choice. You’ve got to incentivise your workouts, I think people are put off by the fact that it’s freezing outside, [but just] think about the warm shower you’ll have afterwards or the breakfast you’ll treat yourself to."

Her fitness motto? “I just say rise and grind and hustle for the muscle. Nothing worth having comes easy.”

This year AJ will start her new role as the backstage presenter for The Voice UK on ITV.

She considers the opportunity a long-term goal she brought to life. “Everything I got this year, I feel I spoke it into existence and acted on it by making small steps throughout the year to get it. I really wanted to be on an entertainment show, I wanted it to involve celebrities and I wanted to be in a shiny studio again. I’m genuinely not nervous as I want to enjoy this experience - and I feel lucky.”