10 Things You Didn’t Know About Melvin Odoom
While he may not be a household name outside of England, Melvin Odoom is a highly popular radio and television presenter in Britain. Perhaps best known for his long-running position as a host of Kiss 100’s Breakfast Show with Rickie Haywood-Williams and Charlie Hedges, Melvin is known as a unique and charismatic entertainer.
His life and career are far more varied than his prominent hosting position on morning radio. Many people are unaware of how extensive and diverse his career is, as well as just how interesting a personal life he leads outside of the entertainment industry.
He has recently been featured on a British reality dancing show, Strictly Come Dancing. This has not only made him more prominent in the public spotlight, it has placed him in the midst of a scandal, with some people arguing that his elimination from the show was biased or even racist.
There are many interesting facts about Melvin that are unknown to many people, so here are some aspects of his life that may not be common knowledge:
10. He met his hosting partner at school
Melvin and Rickie Haywood-Williams are a powerful duo in the English entertainment industry. Hosting an award-winning breakfast radio show, the two are also popular hosts for award show coverage. The two do not only have a good professional relationship; their relationship dates back to university.
The two actually met at the University of Bedfordshire, where Melvin earned a degree in Media Performance and Radio. Interestingly, the university recognized Melvin’s incredible success and character with an honorary Doctorate of Arts in 2016. Not only can he credit this institution with his training for a life spent in the media, but it also allowed him to find one of his most common professional partners.
9. Melvin Odoom Net Worth
Melvin Odoom has an impressive net worth of over $4 million. He has earned such a large sum for his many years spent working in the entertainment industry. When one considers just how busy his schedule is with high profile hosting jobs, it is unsurprising the wealth that he has amassed. Melvin has used his voice, his charisma, and his many years of experience to provide great financial security that is well-deserved.
8. He has had one movie role
While he is best known for his prominent radio and television presenting duties, Melvin has actually appeared on film. He had a minor role as “Agent 2” in the 2009 film My Last Five Girlfriends. A dark comedy film starring Brendan Patricks, this movie is based on Alain De Botton’s book, Essays in Love.
Although it was a very small role, appearing in a motion picture is certainly a notable achievement. This is but one of the many factors that have contributed to Melvin’s varied and valuable experience in show business.
7. He was eliminated early on Strictly Come Dancing
Most recently, Melvin appeared as a participant on the 14th installment of Strictly Come Dancing, a very popular British reality show. In this competition, celebrities are paired with professional dancers and complete routines which are judged and voted on by the viewers, similar to Dancing With the Stars.
Unfortunately for Melvin, he and his partner Janette Manrara were the first couple to be voted off this season. This, and the departure of another black participant, Tameka Empson, led some viewers to protest what they viewed as racism in the show and voting process. Despite the controversy, it was yet another platform for Melvin to display his infectious energy.
6. He is only 5’4
Although a large presence in the British television and radio scene, Melvin is quite small in stature, measuring only 5’4. He often jokes about his height and uses it for comedy. Clearly, his height has not held him back in his career.
5. He was a child actor
With most of his success coming after his university studies, it may come as a surprise to learn that Melvin acted as a child. His childhood experience saw him acting in theatre productions. In fact, he even gave speeches to governors for a youth council.
While child actors often experience tumultuous adult lives, Melvin managed to simply use his experience to build towards a brighter future. He stayed out of the spotlight until adulthood, but his entertainment experience as a youth undoubtedly gave him confidence in his early career.
4. His career is extensive and diverse
His award-winning radio show may be what he is best known for, but Melvin’s career cannot be encapsulated by a single genre or position. He has hosted award show coverage for MTV and Sky1, as well as acting as a team captain on the popular comedy show Sweat the Small Stuff.
Further, he hosted The X-Factor spinoff show The Xtra Factor and recently was a presenter for Bang on the Money.
One of his most famous and celebrated appearances was on Dick and Dom in da Bungalow from 2002-2006, where he played a wide variety of roles. Such a diverse career has given Melvin experience with music, acting, and comedy.
3. He is multi-talented
As he performs in such varied roles, it helps that Melvin is a naturally gifted comedian, actor, and dancer. He would not be given so many high profile hosting opportunities in the music and comedy genres if he did not display such competence.
Further, his dancing ability was one of the reasons for the backlash after he was voted off early from Strictly Come Dancing. Many viewers felt that he (and Tameka Empson) were far more talented than many other competitors, leading them to the conclusion that bias was the reason for their elimination.
2. He is part of an acting family
Melvin is certainly a gifted and unique presence in the British entertainment industry, but he is not the only entertainer in his family. His sister, Yonah Odoom, is an actor as well. She has appeared in Coronation Street and even had a role as Rosa Parks. Her newest endeavor is as the co-creator and writer of You Only Marry Once, a web series.
Melvin clearly comes from a talented and hard-working family. With such a successful sister, it must be beneficial to have someone so close that understands the challenges of working in the entertainment industry.
1. He does a great deal of charity work
Melvin Odoom has earned a great deal of admiration, popularity, and wealth. However, he has not allowed such success to deter him from making a positive impact in the lives of others. For many years, Melvin taught dance lessons to at-risk youth in London.
Further, Melvin works with Rays of Sunshine, an organization that grants wishes to seriously ill children. He also ran the London Marathon in 2012 to raise funds for prostate and breast cancer research. He is an ambassador for The Prince’s Trust, which helps young adults.
It is always good to see the well-off, even those who earn their success like Melvin, giving back to their communities and using their status for the benefit of others.
Conclusion
Melvin Odoom is a talented and experienced entertainer. His career has consisted of presenting, acting, dancing, and comedy. He is a popular radio host with his partner Rickie, and has experienced great success throughout his career.
Perhaps most importantly, Melvin is renowned for his desire to give back to his community. He has earned every bit of his wealth and status, but has used such success to benefit a wide array of charities. He is as successful in his personal life as his professional life.
