Ashley Modurotolu Banjo (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), Dancing on Ice (2018–2025), and Netflix original reality TV show Dance Monsters (2022). In 2016, he was a co-presenter for the Saturday night BBC game show Can't Touch This. Following their victory, Banjo created and choreographed several sell-out UK arena tours for the group, including the Limitless tour, the Born Ready 10th-anniversary tour, and the 2023–2024 Supernova tour.
Early life and education Banjo was born in Leytonstone, England, and grew up in Essex. His father is Nigerian heavyweight boxer Funso Banjo, and his mother is Danielle, a dance teacher from Ilford. 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.
Diversity 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
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.
Post Britain's Got Talent
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
In 2013 Ashley choreographed a tour for Diversity called Limitless. The tour ran from 30 November to 16 December.
In 2021, Ashley partnered with detergent brand Persil and TV channel Sky Nature to make a series of short films highlighting environmental action.
In June 2023, he began playing the Tin Woodman in the West End revival of The Wizard of Oz.
Television work 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. 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. 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.
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.
Filmography Year Title Role 1996 Barrymore Himself 2009, 2016, 2020 Britain's Got Talent Himself (2009, 2016), Guest Judge (2020) 2010 StreetDance 3D Aaron 2010–2014 Got to Dance Himself as a judge2011 The Real Hustle Himself The Magicians Himself The Apprentice Himself Text Santa Himself 2012–2014 Ashley Banjo's Secret Street Crew Himself2012 Celebrity Juice Himself The Cube Himself, won £20,000 to split between NSPCC and Beatbullying2013 Stella Himself, episode 2.7Celebrity Juice HimselfJordan and Perri's Ultimate Block Party Himself2014 Ashley Banjo's Big Town Dance HimselfStars at Your Service HimselfThis Morning HimselfRelease the Hounds: Jingle Hell Himself, team won £12,000 to split between NSPCC and Beatbullying2015 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-presenter2017 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 2017, 2021— Pride of Britain Awards Himself; roving reporter (2017), Co-host (2021—) 2018-2025 Dancing on Ice Himself as a judge 2019— Flirty Dancing Himself, presenter2020On Christmas NightHimself, reader 2021 The Void Himself, presenter Ashley Banjo: Britain in Black and White Himself, presenter 2022 Dance Monsters Himself, judge 2026 Pilgrimage Himself
Personal life After winning Britain's Got Talent in 2009, Banjo took a break from his schooling to concentrate on his dancing. 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. In 2015, they got married. Ashley and Francesa have two children, Rose (born 2019) and Micah (born 2020). Ashley and Francesca announced on 23 December 2022 that they had separated 18 months earlier.
Ashley Banjo is an Official Ambassador of the United Dance Organisation.
Banjo was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to dance.
References
External links
Ashley Banjo Website