Yahoo NewsThe Bridge: Race to A Fortune – Meet the cast line-up joining Strictly's AJ Odudu
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The Bridge: Race to A Fortune – Meet the cast line-up joining Strictly's AJ Odudu
Strictly Come Dancing star AJ Odudu is back on our screens and taking 16 hopefuls to a tropical paradise in Vietnam, where they'll have to fight their way to a £200,000 prize in The Bridge.
The Channel 4 competition series will put two teams through their paces, with egos having to be put aside in the name of getting their hands on some cold, hard, cash.
With just 12 days to build a bridge over 1,000 feet of water to get to the money, will the crews be able to work as a team to achieve their goal? Or will the weather, each other, or the difficult feat in front of them get the better of them?
Only one way to find out...
The Bridge starts Tuesday at 9pm on Channel 4.
Channel 4 - 2/17
Alex – 24 from London
What team? South Beach
Pronouns: He/Him
Cambridge graduate Alex believes his determination will make up for some of his lack of skills – he knows what he wants and will make sure he gets it.
Hyper competitive, he credits his critical thinking as one of his best skills... and is prepared to do anything necessary even if it means betraying his team mates.
If he wins, he hopes to support his grandmother in Hong Kong to pay her back for covering his education.
Channel 4 - 3/17
Basit – 27 from London
What team? South Beach
Pronouns: He/Him
Dublin-born Bas was raised by Nigerian parents and hopes his cheeky-chappy nature and upbeat personality will make him a winner with his team mates. He moved to London to study finance but now works as a model.
He wants to win the money so he could throw a big Nigerian wedding, having come out as gay a few years ago. The position of his soon-to-be husband is yet to be filled though!
Channel 4 - 4/17
Glasgow – 24 from London
What team? South Beach
Pronouns: They/Theirs
Originally from Scotland, Glasgow is an LGBTQ+ activist who works with a charity while studying their PhD in Art History at University College in London.
Competitive by nature, even their parents are scared to play opposite them at home – especially as they always win. However, their confidence in speaking out often lets them down, even though they're a natural problem solver.
Glasgow hopes their appearance on the show will help people understand more about non-binary people, with the winnings (hopefully!) paying off their student debts.
Channel 4 - 5/17
Dawn – 48 from London
What team?: South Beach
Pronouns: She/Her
This mother-of-four is all about adventure now that her kids have grown up and flown the nest. She works as a carer for the elderly and is a proud Alpha female.
She warns she's a typical Gemini and said: "We have two faces, we can be kind and loving but if you piss us off, you’ll know about it.”
Despite having offers, she's still single, and hopes one day to have a Vegas wedding.Channel 4 - 6/17
Kim – 35 from London
What team?: South Beach
Pronouns: She/Her
Kim is on a mission to live life to the fullest after losing her twin brother in early 2020. She has no plans to settle down any time soon and is enjoying seeing the world on her terms.
However, she's also a naturally caring person for those around her and hopes to keep her teammates motivated. She enjoys being part of a team but considers herself leadership material, and has the competitiveness to go alongside it.
Channel 4 - 7/17
Shaun – 29 from Birmingham
What team?: South Beach
Pronouns: He/Him
Shaun has some experience with the world after growing up between Cornwall and The Philippines. He now works as a model but has previously been a pro basketballer and worked in a school as a supporter of children with special educational needs.
Motivated and planning to lead by example, he's not afraid to do the tougher tasks (and even the ones others just don't want to do). But similarly, he won't handle people who don't pull their weight well.
He wants to help his mum retire if he wins the money.
Channel 4 - 8/17
Richard – 36 from Birmingham
What team?: South Beach
Pronouns: He/Him
While he's in IT sales now, Richard's history as a chef could be just what the team ordered in keeping their bellies full during the challenge.
He believes in working hard, but playing harder. After getting divorced in his early 30s he wants to kickstart a new chapter in his life.
Richard credits his confidence as his biggest asset and feels he can fit into any team where needed.
Channel 4 - 9/17
Lauren – 29 from Stoke-On-Trent
What team?: South Beach
Pronouns: She/Her
Product manager Lauren worked for a confectionary company and keeps things sweet with her positive and energetic nature. She believes she handles negative situations well which will be handy when things get tense making the bridge.
She hopes her sensible head will also prove useful in the challenge, and believes she can make a good leader.
With the money, she plans to take her nephews to Disneyland.
Channel 4 - 10/17
Ethan – 28 from Wiltshire
What team? North Beach
Pronouns: He/Him
Ethan is an Army lad born and bred and joined the military at the age of 21, just like his family before him. He's since been deployed to Germany and Afghanistan.
He is not lacking in any kind of self-confidence, but don't mistake his arrogant first impression, he insists he has a softer side.
For the task, he's used to working as part of a team and aims to keep morale up to achieve the task at hand.
He wants to give the prize money to his family as a thank you for their support.
Channel 4 - 11/17
Keira – 24 from Wrexham
What team? North Beach
Pronouns: She/Her
A Paralympian in the making, Keira is well-versed in taekwondo, and hopes to represent Team GB in Paris 2024.
She had her arm amputated when she was 21, six years after an accident, and hasn't let it slow her down for a second.
A disability ambassador, she speaks in schools about inclusivity and diversity.
A natural at working under pressure, she says it "may take her longer to get there... but she will there".
Channel 4 - 12/17
David – 36, South Wales
What team? North Beach
Pronouns: He/Him
Lorry driver David reckons he's a "Karl Pilkington type" and takes joy in moaning about life's foibles. He admits he grew up quite narrow-minded, and hopes the experience will bring him out of his comfort zone and help him see more of the world.
He's competitive but admits he often 'speaks before he thinks', which has got him into trouble a few times before.
Channel 4 - 13/17
Alim – 31, London
What team?: North Beach
Pronouns: He/Him
Professional sign-language interpreter Alim is a proud hard-of-hearing, queer Muslim. He describes himself as a leader and mediator, having been one of the few people in his family who can hear and taking the lead in helping them communicate.
He is now extremely self-assured having spent years growing up learning to balance his sexuality and his culture.
He hopes to win and use the money to help good causes.
Channel 4 - 14/17
Lotti – 20, Cornwall
What team? North Beach
Pronouns: She/Her
Born and raised near the coast, Lotti has hopes of becoming a broadcast journalist and thrives under pressure.
She's also a natural social butterfly which means she could become a valued member of the team, and feels she an often be overlooked as someone who "doesn't want to break a nail"... though don't be misled, she knows how to get stuck in.
Lotti's also not afraid of bending some rules to achieve her goals.
Channel 4 - 15/17
Crystal – 52 from Liverpool
What team? North Beach
Pronouns: She/Her
Growing up in Somerset, Crystal came out after moving to Brighton and had gender reassignment surgery at the age of 30. She believes the transition has helped her life become more colourful.
She's honest and doesn't have a filter – something she says gets her into trouble. She also has no times for liars, warning "she's a good friend but not the best enemy".
Crystal is playing to win, and warns "If someone wants to play dirty, I'll play filthy". Let the games begin!
Channel 4 - 16/17
Rikaya – 30, Liverpool
What team? North Beach
Pronouns: She/Her
Rikaya knows how to be thrifty and juggle a lot of things at once. On top of having a fashion business and being a yoga teaher, she also has a day job as an estage agent. So expect her to be a forward thinker who could come in handy with this task!
However, she is always up for fun and may clash with people who don't have a sense of humour, take themselves too seriously, or is caught cheating.
She hopes to win the money to open her own yoga studio.
Channel 4 - 17/17
Frankie – 30 from London
What team? North Beach
Pronouns: He/Him
This Canadian-born hopeful knows the gift of the gab – and is the founder of a speech and debate company. This could come in handy when talking people around to his side.
Listed as one of Forbes 30 Under 30, he was also a Mr Universe finalist. But will any of this be useful when making the bridge? Apparently not, as by his own admission he can't build.
Frankie describes himself as a risk-taker and puppet master. He says he doesn't need the money, but will take it anyway.
Channel 4
