It was tricky being Black, northern & female in TV

AJ on her early career struggles

- MARK JEFFERIES

AJ Odudu says she often doubted whether she would ever make it in showbiz because TV bosses couldn't handle her being a Black woman with a Lancashire accent.

Despite regional twangs being commonplace at the time, especially on BBC radio, the 34-year-old said she was initially held back because she refused to betray her Blackburn roots.

She said: "I found it tricky to navigate my way around a space that sometimes made me feel 'other'.

"My accent was a big thing, but what was confusing was there were other regional accents Nick Grimshaw and Annie Mac were on BBC Sounds.