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Ashley Banjo

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Ashley Banjo
MBE
Banjo interviewed by UK Gossip TV at the National Television Awards in 2020
Born
Ashley Modurotolu Banjo

(1988-10-04) 4 October 1988 (age 36)
Leytonstone, London, England
Occupations
  • Dancer
  • choreographer
  • television personality
Years active2009–present
Children2
RelativesJordan Banjo (brother)
Career
Current groupDiversity
DancesStreet dance

Ashley Modurotolu Banjo MBE (born 4 October 1988) is an English dancer, choreographer, and television personality. He is the leader of the street dance troupe Diversity who won the third series of the television talent show Britain's Got Talent in 2009. Banjo has been a judge on television dance competition shows, including Got to Dance (2009–2014), Dance Dance Dance (2017). and Dancing on Ice (2018–present). In 2016, he was a co-presenter for the Saturday night BBC game show Can't Touch This.

Early life and education

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Son of former heavyweight boxer Funso Banjo and Danielle,[1][2] Banjo was educated at the independent St John's School, Billericay, where he was Head Boy and still holds the high jump sports day record.[3]

Diversity

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In 2007, Ashley and his younger brother Jordan formed Swift Moves with nine of their friends, before later changing their name to Diversity. He was given the nickname "Chosen" by his fellow Diversity members. In their first year together, they won the Street Dance Weekend 2007 competition, before deciding to enter Britain's Got Talent.

Britain's Got Talent

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Main article: Britain's Got Talent

After receiving "yes" votes from all three judges in their audition, Diversity went on to compete in the first semi-final on 24 May, losing the public vote-decided first place to Susan Boyle but winning the judges' vote against Natalie Okri. In the final six days later, Diversity were announced as the winners, beating Boyle and Julian Smith (who came second and third respectively). As winners of the competition, Diversity received £100,000 (around £9,090 per member) and went on to perform before Queen Elizabeth at the Royal Variety Show on 7 December 2009.[4]

Post Britain's Got Talent

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Subsequently, Diversity were nominated in the Dance section of the final South Bank Show awards and won an award at the Pride of Britain Awards[5]

In 2013 Ashley choreographed a tour for Diversity called Limitless. The tour ran from 30 November to 16 December.[6][7]

In 2021, Ashley partnered with detergent brand Persil and TV channel Sky Nature to make a series of short films highlighting environmental action.[8]

In June 2023, he began playing the Tin Woodman in the West End revival of The Wizard of Oz.[9]

Television work

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Ashley was a judge on Sky1's dancing talent show Got to Dance for all five series. Diversity appeared as guest performers at least once every series. In total they did nine performances on the show.[10] In 2015, he presented Perspectives: Michael Jackson's Thriller with Ashley Banjo.

In 2016, Banjo co-presented Can't Touch This, a Saturday night game show for BBC One, alongside Zoe Ball.[11] In 2017, Banjo was a judge on the new ITV series Dance Dance Dance, presented by Alesha Dixon and Will Best.

Since January 2018, Banjo has been part of the judging panel on Dancing on Ice, starting with its tenth series in 2018.[12]

In August 2020, it was announced that due to Simon Cowell's bike injury and recovery period, Banjo would replace Cowell for the live semi-final and final shows of the 14th series of Britain's Got Talent.[13]

Filmography

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Year Title Role
1996 Barrymore Himself
2009, 2016, 2020 Britain's Got Talent Himself (2009, 2016), Guest Judge (2020)[13]
2010 StreetDance 3D Aaron
2010–2014 Got to Dance Himself as a judge
2011 The Real Hustle Himself
The Magicians Himself
The Apprentice Himself
Text Santa Himself
2012–2014 Ashley Banjo's Secret Street Crew Himself
2012 Celebrity Juice Himself
The Cube Himself, won £20,000 to split between NSPCC and Beatbullying
2013 Stella Himself, episode 2.7
Celebrity Juice Himself
Jordan and Perri's Ultimate Block Party Himself
2014 Ashley Banjo's Big Town Dance Himself
Stars at Your Service Himself
This Morning Himself
Release the Hounds: Jingle Hell Himself, team won £12,000 to split between NSPCC and Beatbullying[14]
2015 Diversity Live Himself
You're Back in the Room Guest
Perspectives Michael Jackson's Thriller with Ashley Banjo Himself, presenter
2016 Can't Touch This Himself, co-presenter
2017 Diversity Presents Steal the Show Himself
Dance Dance Dance Himself as a judge
All Round to Mrs. Brown's Himself, guest
Catchphrase: Celebrity Special Himself, contestant
A Night for the Emergency Services Himself, presenter
2017— The Real Full Monty Himself, co-presenter[15]
2017, 2021— Pride of Britain Awards Himself; roving reporter (2017), Co-host (2021—)
2018— Dancing on Ice Himself as a judge
2019— Flirty Dancing Himself, presenter[16]
2020 On Christmas Night Himself, reader [17]
2021 The Void Himself, presenter
Ashley Banjo: Britain in Black and White Himself, presenter[18]
2022 Dance Monsters Himself, judge

Personal life

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After winning Britain's Got Talent in 2009, Banjo took a break from his schooling to concentrate on his dancing.[citation needed] He said that "from the age of 14, I started to teach myself routines". Banjo was in a thirteen-year relationship with Francesca Abbott, who is a member of another dance troupe called Out of the Shadows. They announced their engagement on 2 October 2014.[19][non-primary source needed] Ashley and Francesa have two children, Rose (born 2019) and Micah (born 2020).[citation needed] Ashley and Francesca announced on 23 December 2022 that they had separated 18 months earlier.[20]

Ashley Banjo is an Official Ambassador of the United Dance Organisation.[21]

Banjo was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to dance.[22][23][24]

References

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  1. ^ Yeates, Cydney (22 June 2020). "Ashley Banjo's dad feared him speaking out about George Floyd's death". Metro.co.uk. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  2. ^ "Diversity stars' mum is proud of her boys". Echo-news.co.uk. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  3. ^ McGarry, Lisa (24 May 2009). "Britain's Got Talent: Can Diversity Beat Flawless?". Unreality TV. Archived from the original on 28 April 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2009.
  4. ^ Leach, Ben (30 May 2009). "Diversity beat Susan Boyle to win Britain's Got Talent". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2009.
  5. ^ "Diversity nominated in Arts award". BBC News. 7 January 2010. Archived from the original on 14 January 2010. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  6. ^ "Limitless tickets". Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  7. ^ "Limitless". Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  8. ^ Murphy, David. "Persil and Sky Nature partner for Changemakers films encouraging social and environmental action". Mobile Marketing Magazine. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  9. ^ Thomas, Sophie (23 February 2023). "Jason Manford and Ashley Banjo to star in 'The Wizard of Oz'". London Theatre. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  10. ^ "Jordan and Perri talk about Diversity performances". Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  11. ^ "BBC game show hosted by Zoe Ball wraps up filming in Titanic Quarter's T13: Can't Touch This set to return to Belfast". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  12. ^ "Dancing on Ice confirms Ashley Banjo as judge for 2018 series". Digital Spy. 19 October 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  13. ^ a b Alex, Susannah; er (23 August 2020). "Britain's Got Talent announces Ashley Banjo as Simon Cowell's replacement for semi-finals". Digital Spy. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  14. ^ Bond, Kimberley (23 February 2020). "Who is Perri Kiely? Dancing on Ice contestant and Diversity star". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 4 January 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  15. ^ "Press Releases". Itv.com.
  16. ^ "Flirty Dancing Stand Up To Cancer special: Everything you need to know". Radio Times. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  17. ^ "BBC One – On Christmas Night, 2020". BBC. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  18. ^ "Ashley Banjo: Britain in Black and White". itv.com/presscentre. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  19. ^ "Ashley Banjo on twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  20. ^ Beasley, Tom (23 December 2022). "Ashley Banjo has split from his wife after 16 years as a couple". Yahoo News. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  21. ^ "Ambassadors – UDO Street Dance". Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
  22. ^ "No. 63571". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 2022. p. N16.
  23. ^ "New Year Honours 2022: Lumley and Redgrave become dames". BBC News. 31 December 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  24. ^ "Diversity's Ashley Banjo 'humbled and proud' with MBE honour". BBC News. 31 December 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
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