King Kenny's Rise: From Watford Childhood to BBC's Celebrity Traitors Final

Kenny Oghenovo Ojuederie, known to his fans as King Kenny, has emerged as BBC's latest television talent, reaching the final of Celebrity Traitors after a challenging path from a deprived upbringing in Watford.

King Kenny began his YouTube career at 16, creating prank videos and vlogs. However, a broken camera, borrowed from his mother, forced him to work jobs at McDonald's and ASDA to afford a replacement, marking an early hurdle in his pursuit of a media career. Now, 13 years later, his presence on Celebrity Traitors has brought him significant recognition.

Ojuederie, 29, has spoken about the financial struggles he faced growing up as one of 14 children. "My upbringing was horror; I was so poor, I’ll be honest," he stated in a 2024 podcast interview. He recounted wearing less-fashionable shoes than his peers and subsisting on simple meals. While he believes his father may have additional family in Nigeria, his immediate family faced considerable hardship.

He pursued a media studies course at Brunel University before launching his YouTube channel in 2013. His early content involved prank videos with friends and vlogs. In 2016, he was arrested on suspicion of a public order offense while filming a prank dressed as a chainsaw-wielding clown on his university campus. He was later released on bail and issued an apology, clarifying that the prank involved friends who were aware of the stunt.

In 2019, Ojuederie joined The Beta Squad, a collective of British YouTubers including Chunkz and Niko Omilana. The group has amassed over 11 million subscribers. Alongside his online career, King Kenny is a boxer who has competed in various tournaments. He announced his retirement from the sport in May due to a rib injury.

His participation in Celebrity Traitors saw him initially playing as a Faithful. Midway through the series, he was recruited as a Traitor by hosts Maya Jama and James Acaster. The trio successfully gained the trust of other contestants, progressing to the final episodes.

Ojuederie has also launched a music career, releasing his debut single shortly before the Celebrity Traitors final, with lyrics referencing his role on the show. He enlisted comedian Romesh Ranganathan for his music video. The surge in his public profile has led to speculation about his relationship with co-star Maya Jama, fueled by their interactions on the show. However, sources close to the pair have stated they are long-time friends who have collaborated previously and are simply supporting each other on the program.