Ayo Akinwolere facts for kids

Ayo Akinwolere (born November 30, 1982) is a well-known British TV presenter. He used to be known as Andy Akinwolere.

Early Life and Moving to the UK

Ayo Akinwolere was born in Ibadan, Nigeria, in 1982. When he was eight years old, he moved to the United Kingdom with his family. That's when he started using the name "Andy."

His family made their home in Birmingham, where Ayo went to school. His parents are both doctors and work in Kidderminster, a town in Worcestershire.

Education and Learning

Ayo went to St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School in Harborne. Later, he attended St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School in Kings Norton, Birmingham.

He then studied at Sheffield Hallam University. In 2004, he earned a degree in Media Studies.

TV Career Highlights

Ayo Akinwolere's first job was working behind the scenes for the BBC. He wanted to make documentaries and work in radio. But then, something exciting happened!

Becoming a Blue Peter Presenter

A director from the famous children's show Blue Peter met Ayo and asked him to try out for a role. Ayo started presenting Blue Peter on June 28, 2006. He was the 32nd presenter for the show.

While on Blue Peter, Ayo was nominated for two big awards. These were the Presenter of the Year Children's BAFTA and Best Factual Programme for Blue Peter.

In 2008, Ayo was the main presenter when Queen Elizabeth II visited Blue Peter. This visit celebrated 50 years of the show!

Setting a World Record

In June 2011, Ayo achieved an amazing feat. He set a new world record for the deepest open water swim. He swam over five miles across the Palau Trench in the Pacific Ocean. He was the first person ever to do this!

This incredible swim was his last major challenge on Blue Peter. He left the show at the end of that season.

Other TV Appearances

Ayo has appeared on many other TV shows. In December 2007, he competed on Ready Steady Cook against fellow presenter Konnie Huq. He also appeared on The Weakest Link in the same year.

In 2011, Ayo was a contestant on Total Wipeout. He had to leave the show because of an injury.

Hosting Fort Boyard

From 2012 to 2014, Ayo co-presented the show Fort Boyard: Ultimate Challenge. He hosted it with Laura Hamilton. The show was nominated for a British Academy Children's Awards for Best Entertainment Programme in 2014.

Documentaries and Cooking Shows

In 2012, Ayo traveled to Jamaica to interview the famous sprinter Usain Bolt for a BBC documentary. The film explored why Jamaica is so good at sprinting.

In January 2013, he appeared in a special series of The Great British Bake Off for Comic Relief. He was also a contestant on Celebrity Master Chef in 2016.

Presenting Inside Out

In 2014, Ayo became the presenter of the BBC's current affairs program Inside Out for the West Midlands. He won an award for his documentary on extremism.

While presenting Inside Out, he started using his birth name, Ayo, again.

Sports Coverage

Ayo has also worked in sports broadcasting. In 2018, he became a co-presenter for Channel 4's coverage of the European Rugby Champions Cup.

In September 2020, he joined CBS Sports in the US. He presents The Golazo Show, which covers the UEFA Europa League.

At the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Ayo presented nightly coverage for BBC Three.

Personal Life

Ayo Akinwolere has four siblings: three brothers and one sister. They live in the United States.

His first language was Yoruba, which he spoke growing up in Nigeria. He learned English when his family moved to Birmingham. He also spent some time living in Nancy, France, when his parents lived abroad.

Ayo enjoys photography and has had his pictures published in National Geographic Kids Magazine. He also loves collecting rare vinyl records and music. He lives in Margate, Kent.

Filmography

Awards and Recognition

Ayo Akinwolere has received nominations and awards for his work.

• In 2008 and 2010, he was nominated for Presenter of the Year at the BAFTA Children's Awards.
• In 2015, he won a Royal Television Society award for his Inside Out documentary about extremism.