The year is 2009. Slumdog Millionaire and Kate Winslet dominate the film awards, while Lady Gaga’s Poker Face rules the airwaves. And on the small screen, dance troupe Diversity – led by Ashley Banjo – blow everyone away with their dynamic routines, winning the third series of Britain’s Got Talent –shockingly beating favourite Susan Boyle.
Fast-forward 15 years, and Ashley and several of his bandmates – including brother Jordan and best friend Perri Kiely – have become household names. But while he may be incredibly successful as a TV judge and presenter with Dancing On Ice, Got To Dance and Flirty Dancing under his belt, Ashley tells us he’s actually an introvert, who’s happier at home than schmoozing with celebrities.
heat spoke to the 36-year-old star ahead of the Pride Of Britain Awards, which he co-hosted with Carol Vorderman for the fourth year running…
You’re back co-hosting Pride Of Britain. What do you love most about it?
The ability to be humbled and connect back to what’s important. It’s easy in this industry to get swept up in things that aren’t that important, and meeting these people reminds me that there’s so much good in humanity. I love taking a moment to appreciate some of the amazing things that people do.
Do the awards hit you differently now you’re a dad [he has kids Rosie, five, and Micah, four]?
Massively. I used to be affected meeting these incredible winners before, but now I’m a father, it affects me ten times more. It’s one thing hearing about this six or seven year old that’s done this incredible act and you go, ‘Wow’. But when you see them, you get a sense of them and their stature, personality and their energy. I kneel down to talk to these kids and I just see my daughter and my son. It puts it into context for me because they feel like my kids. The thought of my kid having to go through some of the things they do, when you see kids who are really going through a tough time. I look around to the parents, I don’t know how they’re so strong, or how they cope the way they do.
What do you think of Pride Of Britain celebrating its 25th birthday this year?
That’s an amazing feat. For any awards show or television production to achieve a quarter of a century is amazing. I think it’s done that because it’s about real people doing incredible things, which really connects to the heart of the audience.
Have you and Carol become close from working together?
We are quite close. We speak a lot and I keep an eye on what she’s doing, and vice versa. Carol’s such a special lady. She’s amazing. She’s super-smart, in touch, and really speaks her mind. I’m so grateful for our friendship.
What other unlikely friendships have you built up over the years?
Coleen Nolan, who I know from when we both worked on The Full Monty, is another one. Coleen is a good friend, and she tells me how it is. That’s the good thing about this job. I’m lucky to work with so many different types of people. Sometimes, you strike up a good relationship with people you may not have even expected. Even though work is our common ground, there are loads of weird and wonderful people in this industry. [Laughs.]
Who’s the most A-list person you’ve got on your phone?
Not that many! People think I’m a socialite or an extrovert, but I am actually introverted. I’m an indoors person every single day of the week.
But you’ve met royalty and stars…
I’ve met a lot of people. I’ve had a lot of people phone me before over the years, like Prince Harry and Elton John, but I haven’t got their numbers to give them a bell. I should poach their numbers while I can.
Tell them you need their help for a Diversity launch or something…
Yeah. ‘Can you write us a song, Elton? Just a little one…’
It’s been over 15 years since Diversity won Britain’s Got Talent. Does it feel unreal now?
After that long, it does feel like a dream. There are moments when I think, ‘Wow’, but we’ve had to work really hard for it. All these years on, the hard work and the sacrifice, what it’s taken to keep Diversity intact for 15 years, feels like a dream, especially when we walk into our own studio now. I look around and see my best friends and family, but it also feels like a hard- fought battle at moments to make that a reality. It is a dream, but we’ve still got our feet on the ground.
How do Rosie and Micah feel when they see you on TV?
They’re four and five, so I think they’re only starting to understand that it’s me, but they don’t get the gravity of it. Sometimes, my little girl asks me why people come up to me and take pictures. She doesn’t understand why they want a picture with her daddy, but then she goes, ‘Is it because you’re on the telly?’ So, they’re starting to link the dots now. They love it. They’re starting to get into dancing and my little girl loves singing.
Are you the popular parent on the school run?
Like I said, I’m an introvert. I stay in the car! I run and grab the kids from the school gate and it’s ‘Go, go, go’. It’s a mission.
Hang on – you’re happy to strip off on stage for The Full Monty…
What I’ve learned over time is how different the two things are. It’s one of the reasons why I love performing, because I get to become a different person when I do it. I’m not on stage dancing and thinking like Ash, I’m on stage and being an entertainer. I love to dance and I love to create, and I’ve had to learn to be a better host. But even then, it’s not the most natural thing in the world for me. I’m not a ‘sit down and talk to people’ person, and that’s why I find shows like the Pride Of Britain so much more interesting. It’s why you would probably never see an Ashley Banjo chat show, because I’d have to be good at chatting to people.
What I like doing, and I’m good at, is talking to real people, finding out about real things, and getting to grips with them, because it’s not about me, it’s about finding out about them. I love dancing because it’s a skill and a way of expressing myself, but the moment I’m out of that bubble and back in the real world, I find it difficult to be an extrovert and be outward in that way.
Is there any brotherly rivalry between you and Jordan?
No rivalry at all. I’ve got nothing but love for Jordan and vice versa. We’re similar – we’re dancers and we fill a similar space – but at the same time, we’re completely different. We’ve got very different interests and personalities. There are very few people who I’m genuinely happy, from the core, if they do better than me. But with Jord, I’m happy for him and support him.
Would you like to host a radio show like he does?
I like to do things as and when they feel correct. My brother, Perri and I have spoken recently about starting a podcast and a radio show, but I’m not a full-steam-ahead person, unless I really believe in it. I would do a radio show if it felt right, but as of yet, I’ll leave it to Jord. He and Perri have to get up way too early for me for their KISS Breakfast show. My bro has always been more of a morning person than I have.
How about I’m A Celebrity?
Not in a million years! Snakes, spiders, everything over your head, and being locked in a camp with a group of people I don’t know – with no food – sounds like hell to me.
Is being a judge on Dancing On Ice a dream role?
Working in TV – hosting, presenting and judging – got added to my dream list early on, because I enjoy so much of the industry in that respect. So, absolutely, Dancing On Ice is a dream job for me. I get to sit in the best seats in the house every week, watch a great show, and I haven’t got to break a sweat once.
What do you think of this year’s line-up?
I haven’t got to grips with it yet, but I’m looking forward to it. I’ve seen a couple of people I’m excited about.
What else would you like to do?
We’ve spoken a lot recently about creating a show from scratch for a long-term production for the West End. I’ve also been secretly working on a movie recently.
So, Hollywood’s calling?
Potentially. There are big talks and big aspirations for the big screen!
The Daily Mirror Pride Of Britain Awards 2024 airs Thursday 24 October from 8pm on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STVPlayer