Ayo Akinwolere

Ayo Akinwolere is an award-winning broadcaster and journalist who excels across sports, current affairs, and factual programming with warmth and authenticity. His career spans Blue Peter, where he became the BBC's first Black male presenter and earned multiple BAFTA nominations, through to hosting live rugby for Channel 4, Europa League coverage for CBS, and the BBC's Commonwealth Games, which won an RTS Award for Best Sports Programme. He co-founded MilkFirst Productions to create meaningful documentaries and holds a world record for swimming across the deepest ocean trench. Audiences gain a confident, credible host who connects diverse topics with energy and insight, whilst organisations benefit from his proven ability to engage communities through compelling storytelling and inclusive representation.

During his first year presenting Blue Peter, Ayo Akinwolere travelled back to his country of birth, Nigeria, for a documentary that earned him a Children's BAFTA nomination and marked the beginning of a broadcasting career spanning entertainment, sport, and current affairs. Over five years on the BBC's flagship children's programme, he became the show's first Black male presenter and secured two further BAFTA nominations for both Presenter of the Year and Programme of the Year. His transition from children's television to mainstream broadcasting has been defined by versatility, from hosting Fort Boyard Ultimate Challenge for CITV to anchoring live rugby for Channel 4 and presenting three years of Europa League coverage for CBS in the United States. In 2023, his work as part of the BBC's Commonwealth Games presenting team contributed to the programme winning an RTS Award for Best Sports Programme.

Akinwolere's credibility extends far beyond entertainment. In 2014, he made the leap to current affairs as presenter of Inside Out in the West Midlands, winning a Royal Television Society Award for his documentary on extremism and a BBC Ruby Award for Programme of the Year in his debut season. He remains a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4's Our Home Correspondent, exploring stories rooted in identity and community. His sports broadcasting work includes presenting Premier League Today for Premier League Productions and reporting for BBC Sport's Football Focus and The Premier League Show. As co-founder of MilkFirst Productions, he has developed original documentary content, including Yorkshire Cop: Police Racism and Me, which examined institutional racism in British policing. He also holds a world record for swimming across the Palau Trench in the Pacific Ocean, one of the deepest stretches of water on Earth, and has written for The Daily Telegraph, BBC Sport, and National Geographic Kids Magazine. His advocacy work includes serving on the BAFTA Film and Television Awards jury and acting as an ambassador for Crisis UK.

Akinwolere's value to events lies in his ability to connect diverse audiences through authentic storytelling and inclusive representation. As an experienced host and moderator for leading agencies including Havas, M&C Saatchi, and Imagination, he has anchored high-profile conferences such as the Natixis Investment Managers Summit in Paris and the Sodexo Quality of Life Conference. His university lecture series, Finding Your Voice, has inspired aspiring broadcasters across Britain to develop their presence and confidence within the television industry. Audiences benefit from his warmth, energy, and proven ability to navigate complex subjects with clarity and insight, whilst organisations gain a credible, engaging host who understands how to facilitate meaningful conversations. Whether moderating panel discussions, hosting live broadcasts, or delivering keynote speeches, Akinwolere creates memorable experiences that leave audiences informed, energised, and connected to the stories that matter.