Ayo Akinwolere
Ayo Akinwolere | |
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| Born | Odunayo Andrew Akinwolere 30 November 1982 Ibadan, Nigeria |
| Education | Sheffield Hallam University (BA Media Studies, 2004; Honorary Doctorate, 2022) |
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| Years active | 2004–present |
| Employer(s) | BBC, Channel 4, CBS Sports, The Athletic / The New York Times, Premier League Productions |
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Odunayo Andrew Akinwolere (born 30 November 1982), known professionally as Ayo Akinwolere and formerly as Andy Akinwolere, is a British television presenter, journalist, and broadcaster. He is best known for his five-year tenure as a co-presenter on the BBC children's programme Blue Peter (2006–2011), during which he became the show's first Black male presenter. Since leaving Blue Peter, Akinwolere has become a prominent figure in sports broadcasting, working across the BBC, Channel 4, CBS Sports, Amazon Prime, and Premier League Productions.
In June 2011, Akinwolere set a world record for the deepest location open-water swim, crossing more than five miles of the Palau Trench in the Pacific Ocean. He is a four-time BAFTA nominee, a Royal Television Society (RTS) Award winner, and a BBC Ruby Award recipient. In 2023, he became host of The Athletic FC Podcast, which won Sports Podcast of the Year at the British Podcast Awards in 2024.