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TV Quickfire: AJ Odudu on hosting ITV2's musical gameshow Celebrity Karaoke Club

We catch up with AJ Odudu as a new batch of celebrities prepare to sing their hearts out on ITV2 series Celebrity Karaoke Club...

Celebrity Karaoke Club: AJ Odudu
Celebrity Karaoke Club: AJ Odudu Celebrity Karaoke Club: AJ Odudu

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR ROLE ON CELEBRITY KARAOKE CLUB?

I WAS asked to take part in it and it was right after a lockdown. Gosh, there's been so many, I don't know which one! I just jumped at the opportunity, I just thought, "what a good way to see people in an environment which is just full of fun and laughter and a bit of flamboyancy". I knew I wanted to grab the microphone and get on stage and get my karaoke on.

HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN A FAN OF KARAOKE?

It's not necessarily something I plan to do. I've been on a couple of nights out, when I'm like on a date or whatever and there's nowhere else to go and I'm like, "I know this one place but it is a karaoke club and I will be singing, so if that doesn't completely put you off then let's go". I jump at the opportunity to have fun and just be a bit silly.

It's so much fun and also I think it's a good way to see whether they can take you, like, full throttle. Like, can you handle me when I am dancing on a table, singing out of tune, like, is this a vibe?

DO YOU RECKON YOUR DANCE MOVES OR SINGING IS YOUR STRENGTH?

I'm more shouty and active. I don't know whether anything I brought to the stage could be counted as singing or dancing per se, but I am very physical. I like to use the stage and there's nothing subtle about me. I mean, hey listen, I committed, let's just say that I fully committed.

CAN YOU SAY WHO SURPRISED YOU ON THE SHOW?

Suzi Ruffell surprised me a lot. Obviously she is known for being an amazing stand-up comedian, and she's got her own podcast, and I absolutely love everything she does outside of karaoke. So I wasn't expecting, well, I personally think she can sing and I loved her song choices as well. I thought she was a dark horse.

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH NERVES IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS?

I wasn't nervous in the slightest. I'm more nervous now that I've done it, because I wasn't nervous, I was absolutely shameless and so I think I'm more nervous to watch it back…

ARE YOU EXCITED FOR KARAOKE CLUB: DRAG EDITION?

I am really happy to see drag kings and queens celebrated on this show and long live the celebration of that culture and those stories and those voices.

YOU'VE GOT ITV'S COOKING WITH THE STARS COMING UP NEXT?

I'm so excited about, what an amazing opportunity to actually learn how to cook properly. When I got asked to do it I just thought, "I can cook, I can do this," and then I got put with a professional chef and realised very quickly that, actually, I'm not a cook.

WHAT'S THE BIGGEST LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?

My biggest lesson is just that, to really stay in the moment. I'm just thinking, whatever I do now, I just want to take it for what it is. I think we're all guilty of being part of a culture where it's always like what you're doing next and actually I'm very mindful to be in the moment and just enjoy what I'm doing this second, because life moves so fast, and you don't know what's around the corner. A pandemic could be round the corner.

:: Celebrity Karaoke Club, Mondays at 9pm on ITV2, also available via ITV Hub.