Ashley Banjo’s life lessons
Diversity star Ashley Banjo, 30, has come a long way since winning Britain’s Got Talent in 2009, rising through the ranks to become a judge on Dancing On Ice. Here, he shares with Closer what he’s learnt along the way
GIVE YOUR PARTNER SPACE
“My wife [Francesca Abbott] and I have been together since we were 16, and my best advice on relationships is to give each other space. At the start we were busy and I’d only see her once or twice a week, and even now if I go on tour people say, ‘How do you cope?’ But actually it’s nice to be away and miss someone. I’ve got my thing going on and she’s got hers and we couldn’t do it without each other. It’s maybe not the most romantic thing in the world but I feel it’s a good idea.”
SUPPORT AND CHAMPION
YOUNG PEOPLE
“I always think of the quote, ‘Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its life believing it’s stupid.” I know so many kids who are incredible and dance in Diversity [Ashley is the troupe’s founder member, along with younger brother Jordan], and they might not be successful in structured academics, but if you invest in art and spaces where people can do things together, it can change a life. Everyone has something you can learn from. I dance with a lot of kids now, some 12, 13, or 14, and they’re doing things I couldn’t do until I was 20, and they push me. I dance alongside them and it inspires and motivates me.”
TAKE MORE
RISKS
“I was 19 when we entered BGT and at that time I tended to play things safe. I didn’t want to go on the show because I wasn’t sure people would get what we did as it was new. But we went for it. That’s a risk I took and it changed my world. In life you have to get out there and experience everything you can. These days I feel like I’m grown-up because I’m a dad and 30, but I’ll probably look at myself at 40 and think, ‘Why didn’t you do more and take more risks?’”
STOP TO ENJOY THE JOURNEY
“The last 10 years have been a massive learning curve. But sometimes you need to stop and think, ‘That whole decade’s gone and I’ve been flat out.’ So now I reckon I need to appreciate the journey a bit more. I’ve been working with Samsung on their interactive KX space, where you can try out new technology for free, do yoga and take part in cocktail-making classes. I’m a big believer in the vibe and energy of a location. Sometimes it’s good to sit and be a part of the experience.”
KEEP YOUR EXPECTATIONS
REALISTIC
“Don’t expect anything from anyone. A lot of people create things – maybe something they’ve written or a dance routine – and they expect others to like it because they worked hard at it, and that’s where many people fall down. So rather than expect others to like it, work on it to make it impossible for them not to. It’s a subtle difference, but it’s a big one.”
THINGS CHANGE WHEN YOU HAVE CHILDREN
“I like to think I’ve always been a relatively selfless person, helping out with the [Diversity] boys and my immediate family, as we all work together. But with a baby [daughter Rose, seven months] I’m like,
‘Oh my gosh, I need to be whatever she needs me to be.’ I’d literally give anything to make sure she’s all right and that’s a feeling I’ve never felt before, that level of not only love, but also protection. Being a parent does change your perspective slightly.”
CELEBRATE YOUR HERITAGE
“I feel like, [regarding] racism and opportunities for black people, it’s a different world now to when my parents met. I’m quite an early generation for mixed race kids, and when my parents were having me [they] had an awful time. We’re not far away from an era when black people didn’t get equal opportunities and equal rights. To celebrate how far black people have come is an incredible thing and it’s important to do so. It will take us many decades to find true and genuine equality, but we are definitely on the right track.”
FOLLOW YOUR PARENTS’ LEAD
“I have a strong drive to succeed. If I want to achieve something, I’ll go all-out. I’ve been given [that work ethic] by my mum and dad. They still work on the Diversity team, and Mum still looks after us. I’m on tour with Diversity until November, in a different city every night, and I’m lucky because Mum comes with us, the group are my closest friends, and my wife and baby join us for a week at a time.”
By Megan d’Ardenne
● For more about Samsung KX, London’s new culture and innovation destination, see samsung.com/uk/explore/kings-cross
‘Being a parent does change your perspective’