Don’t Rock the Boat host AJ Odudu wants Sir Tom Jones to join next series
FORGET wannabe reality stars and former Olympians - AJ Odudu wants Welsh national treasure Sir Tom Jones to join the next series of Don’t Rock The Boat.
The host of ITV’s latest reality show, which saw celebs row the length of Britain, revealed The Voice judge is a huge fan of the show, and would be her first choice, alongside celeb power couple Matt and Emma Willis, to try the challenge next.
AJ said: “I was really shocked to hear that Tom has been watching the show and he is absolutely hooked.
“He came in, was asking me loads of questions - he obviously loves the fact that we went to Wales.
“And so I’m thinking, right, I know that Shaun Wallace was our oldest member this year, but come on, for next year, Sir Tom Jones.
“The oldest ever contestant, that would be amazing. And Matt and Emma Willis together - they would smash it.”
But AJ admits it was the older contestants she underestimated when first looking at the lineup for the debut series, which aired last week.
The Lancashire-born presenter thought Corrie star Craig Charles and former labour MP Tom Watson might struggle with the physical demands of rowing from Land’s End to John O’Groats..
She said: “Just because of their age, I thought Craig and Tom were going to struggle the most physically.
“And episode one we saw a lot of vomiting from Craig - but he’s a real tryer and that’s the beautiful thing about it.”
“As much as people are physically stronger than others, mentally you see really who is the most resilient.
“It’s surprising - for example, Fleur East and Adam Thomas were actually mentally, very resilient and always very positive, always spurring the team on.”
But AJ wasn’t worried about what the public’s first impressions of her might be - following the racial backlash at rumoured A Question Of Sport presenter Alex Scott, ITV bosses feared the same conversation might take over Twitter.
She said: “I know exactly how hard I have worked over the years to get this opportunity.
“So for me, I was like this is a well deserved, well-earnt gig, so I was ready for any stick that I could have potentially got.”
Safe to say the whole team deserves praise, because you wouldn’t find me rowing 500 miles to Scotland - particularly after lockdown...
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She thought Corrie star Craig Charles and former MP Tom Watson might struggle with the physical demands of rowing from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
AJ said: “Just because of their age, I thought Craig and Tom were going to struggle the most, physically.
“Episode one, we saw a lot of vomiting from Craig. But he’s a real trier and that’s the beautiful thing about it.”
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