Huge ITV star and host of iconic reality show ‘jumps channels to BBC as she signs up for the new series of Celebrity Apprentice’

One of ITV’s biggest stars has reportedly jumped channels to the BBC, after signing up for the return of Celebrity Apprentice.

AJ Odudu is the latest name rumoured to be taking part in the new series, hoping to impress Lord Sugar in the famous boardroom.

Best known as the host of ITV’s revival of Big Brother and the celebrity spin-off, which returns this spring, AJ reportedly ‘jumped’ at the chance to take part.

She is no stranger to BBC screens, after reaching the final of Strictly Come Dancing back in 2021.

A source told The Sun: ‘AJ is one of TV’s most in-demand stars so bosses are thrilled to have her onboard.

‘She jumped at the chance to do it and is always up for new challenges. Plus she is a big fan of the show.

‘She also has a strong competitive side, as viewers saw by how well she did on Strictly, so expect her to go far in the series.’

MailOnline has contacted representatives for AJ Odudu and Celebrity Apprentice for comment.

AJ joins JLS star JB Gill as the latest names who have reportedly signed up for celebrity version of The Apprentice, alongside EastEnders’ Jake Wood, presenters Robert Rinder and Angela Scanlon and Paralympian Kadeena Cox.

Despite not having much business experience, JB has joined the show as part of its 20th anniversary and hopes to impress BBC viewers. 

A TV insider told The Sun: ‘JB certainly isn’t afraid of a challenge, in fact he relishes one. And that was pretty obvious from his barnstorming performances on Strictly.

‘But at least he had a background in dancing and performing in front of big audiences thanks to being a member of a huge boyband.

‘He doesn’t have quite the same level of experience when it comes to running a business, but that only makes for more entertaining viewing, which is the whole point of this show.’

MailOnline have contacted JB’s and the BBC’s representatives for comment. 

It’s the first time spin-off Celebrity Apprentice, which is fronted by Lord Alan Sugar, 77, has been staged in 16 years. 

Producers of the show are reportedly hoping to sign some big names including Cheryl Tweedy and Piers Morgan, as they have appeared on celebrity spin-offs before. 

A TV insider told The Sun: ‘Execs want to get A-list stars involved for this very special version of The Apprentice, and signing up Piers, in particular, would be TV gold as there’s a long-running stand-off between him and Lord Sugar.’ 

‘Few celebrities have been approached yet as the show is still at the early stages and they want to take their time carefully selecting the right mix for the programme.’ 

The celebrity version is likely to go out towards the end of 2025, and the show will reportedly air just before the release of the 20th series. 

The first episode of the UK’s Apprentice, which was hosted by the then Sir Alan Sugar, aired on February 15, 2005, and it was almost an instant hit with viewers.

Then came the celebrity spin-offs in 2007, first for Comic Relief, featuring Piers, Cheryl, Maureen Lipman and Karren Brady, who went on to star in the ‘civilian’ version of the show alongside Lord Sugar. 

In 2008, Sport Relief produced a celebrity spin-off and the lineup included Alan Carr, Jonathan Ross, Michelle Mone, and Patsy Palmer. 

In the same year ,Piers went on to star in the US version of the show when the now President of the United States, Donald Trump, was fronting the contest. It was also the cementing of a personal relationship between the two men. 

Meanwhile, the nineteenth series of The Apprentice is currently airing, with Dr Jana Denzel the latest contestant to leave the show. 

However, rather than be fired, Dr Denzel quit the show after becoming embroiled in an alleged racism row.

The Harley Street cosmetic dentist was spoken to by producers for describing a black person as ‘coloured’ during filming and he then underwent diversity training.

Dr Denzel then quit the competition during last Thursday night’s episode but he and the BBC both insisted that it was not to do with his ‘ill-informed’ comment, which was not broadcast.

He has now set the record straight as he claimed the real reason he quit the programme was actually because of a ‘really hurtful’ remark from Lord Alan Sugar.

He said he thought he had performed ‘really, really well’ until episode four, when the formidable boss said to him: ‘You’ve been really, really quiet since the last few weeks.’

Dr Denzel, who is of Sri Lankan heritage, said he was ‘hurt’ by the remark because he was putting in ‘100 per cent’ and claimed that was what led him to quit the show.

‘I’ve been one of the best performing candidates here for the last few weeks, I’ve been really giving it 100 per cent and all of myself. But you just say that I’ve been really, really quiet is really hurtful,’ he said.

‘That moment onwards, I looked at him and I was like, You know what? Maybe this just isn’t a great fit, then, because if I’m positively contributing and giving 100 per cent of myself, and you’re saying, ”I’m really, really quiet, and you haven’t seen much from me”, then I don’t think this is going to work.

‘So, I actually made my decision in that boardroom at the end of episode four, and I said to the producers as well, I don’t think this is [going to] work or be a great fit for me because I don’t like how that was going down.’