Jordan: IT WORRIES ME THAT MY SON CALLS PERRI “DADA”
The Diversity boys talk radio shows and romance with Jordan Paramor
It’s crazy to think it’s been 11 years since Diversity danced their way onto our TVS (and into our hearts, obvs) when they beat Susan Boyle to take the Britain’s Got Talent crown way back in 2009. Since then, they’ve toured their trainers off, taken part in – and presented – countless shows, and there are already several Diversity babies in the mix.
Now, BFFS Perri Kiely and Jordan Banjo are teaming up to present the all-new KISS Breakfast Show, which kicks off on 3 August. And, if our little chat with them is anything to go by, listeners are in for a treat. The boys banter and laugh non-stop, and are brimming with ideas. At 27 years old with a fiancée and two kids (Cassius, two, and Mayowa, one), you would expect Jordan to be the big brother in this scenario, but ironically it’s 24-year-old Perri who is the more calming influence.
So, is that how they see things working when they hit the airwaves? Let’s find out…
Congrats on your new KISS Breakfast Show! Jordan: Thank you, we’re completely buzzing. We started in radio literally a yearand-a-half ago and we knew it was where we wanted to be, but to now be offered the breakfast show is literally a dream come true. How do you feel about having to get up so early? Perri: Jord’s alright, he’s got kids. J: My son woke me up at 4.45am this morning trying to say biscuit, but he was saying, “Dick it,” instead. If I’m going to be getting up at those times, I’d rather it was to interview Ed Sheeran than get shouted at by my kids. P: I’ll have to get some early morning tips from Jord. The thing is, he rings me when he gets up like it’s a normal time. He’ll phone me at 6am to show me his son eating his breakfast. Who is going to be grumpiest when they’re tired? J: Come on, Pel, be honest. P: Do you think it’s me? Am I a grumpy tired person? J: You’re frighteningly grumpy – and you
don’t even realise it, which is the scary part. P: I’ll try not to be grumpy on the radio then. J: You’ll be fine. You’ll have the sweet release of sleep without a two year old hitting you on the head with a toy to wake you up. How will you perk each other up if you’re knackered? J: That’s actually quite an easy ask for me and Pel. We know each other so well, we bounce off each other, and we can tell if the other one is feeling a bit sensitive. We’re usually pretty good at giving each other space, and then knowing when it’s time to start taking the mickey again. Who is most likely to turn up to work with a hangover? J: Neither of us… I wish we sounded cooler. P: The better question is, who will turn up more hydrated? Because all we drink is water. The biggest party we go to is at KISS. Who will be your dream guests? P: Jordan will absolutely fangirl if Anthony Joshua comes on – he’s got a shrine to him in his house. J: It’s not a shrine. You make it sound so weird. It’s signed memorabilia, there’s a difference. P: There’s a pair of shorts on the wall and all sorts. Jordan would faint if Anthony Joshua came on. Jordan, you’ve got two kids under two years old – is your life constantly manic? J: Pretty much, especially now we’ve got a lot of kids in Diversity. My son is like me, but without any adult restraint. He’s hyper 24/7. If he’s happy, sad, excited, you name it – it’s all at 100 per cent. The moment he wakes up at 4.30am, he’s ready to go. You’ve said that your son Cassius is already busting some moves? J: Oh, constantly. What’s annoying is that he copies Perri a lot. There have been times when Perri has come on TV doing a backflip and Cassius has shouted, “Dada!” I said to my fiancée Naomi once, “If Cassius needs an eye test in the next six months, I’m going to worry.” Even his hair is like Perri’s. I’m a bit concerned. Speaking of Naomi, you proposed on the beach in the Maldives earlier this year, spelling out “Will you marry me?” in flaming letters. That’s pretty impressive… J: Funnily enough, that wasn’t the original plan. I was going to propose at the Hammersmith Apollo during Diversity’s ten-year anniversary tour last October. I filmed all the content and I was going to do a performance and bring her up onstage. Then, literally a week beforehand, I thought, “This isn’t right.” She doesn’t like being the centre of attention, and I thought she would crumble. So, instead, I decided I wanted to do something that was genuinely – Perri’s going to laugh at me here – magical. P: Euuurrrrrgggghhhh! J: I wanted to do something more private, too. We already share so much of our lives with people, and
even when Na was pregnant with our daughter, it got leaked before we could announce it. I wanted the proposal to be for just me and her – and it was perfect. I’m not someone to toot my own horn, but when I look back at the pictures, I think even Anthony Joshua would have said yes to me in that moment. You were hoping for a winter wedding this year. Have things had to be put on hold?
J: Yes. The plan was we were going to get back from the Maldives, and once The Greatest Dancer was done and dusted, we were going to attack the wedding full force. But then we went straight into lockdown, so we didn’t get to view any venues until a couple of weeks ago. There’s one Na really, really likes, and once
‘Celebs Go Dating was traumatic – it was out of my comfort zone’ Perri
she’s got her sights set on something, I just nod and agree. I don’t think it will happen this year now, so I reckon we’re looking at next year or the year after. We’re not putting any pressure on ourselves. Perri, how was your Celebs Go Dating experience? P: Is traumatic the right word? [Both laugh.] It was good fun once it was finished. It was so far out of my comfort zone, it was a joke. I don’t think I’d ever been on a date before the show, so I literally got a crash course in dating and was scarred for life. But I overcame some fears, so every cloud, right? What was the scariest moment? P: Turning up to the first day of filming and walking through some double doors to find 30 girls standing there. I just thought, “I really want to go home.” J: Were they like, “Which girl do you like the look of ?” And you’re like, “Well, that cab driver’s looking pretty good right now.”
P: That’s what it was like! It was terrifying at times, but it was a laugh, too, and I got some good stories out of it. Are you loved-up at the moment? P: I’m not, but my mum says that when you stop looking for love you find it, so that’s my tactic. I have been trying that for the past 24 years, but hopefully soon. Can heat help out at all at all? What kind of a girl are you after? P: Can you put a big ad on the front page for the next few weeks? J: The advert will be written by me – you do realise that? P: Maybe not then. But heat, you are more than welcome to help. Have you got a celebrity crush who we could tap up? P: Do you know – I really don’t think I have? J: To be fair, he had a few drinks one time and admitted that I’m his celebrity crush. P: The thing is, I know Jord is engaged now and I don’t want to break up a solid relationship. J: But the heart wants what the heart wants. P: I’ll just keep thirdwheeling for now.
Are you often a third wheel? P: Constantly. I’ve taken it to the next level. I feel like when Jordan got engaged, my status as a professional third wheel got upgraded, too. And how was Dancing On Ice? P: I actually loved it. I’m always a big fan of a show where you learn a new skill. J: Like dating? [Cracks up.] Perri – how is your amazing hair at the moment? P: It’s great. It’s not out a lot these days and some people think I’ve shaved it off, but it’s just very well slicked to my head. Don’t worry, I could never bring myself to cut it. Jordan – did you ever have a dance-off with Cheryl when you were working on The Greatest Dancer? J: No. She performed with us, and she was sick. I decided never to have a dance-off with her after seeing her perform with the Strictly pros. She crushes every style of dance. I wouldn’t want to battle her, to be fair. Have you two ever battled each other? P: Only over food. We headspin for the last biscuit. J: Let’s be honest – I’d lose if we had a battle. Everyone would be like, “Look at Perri in his cute glasses doing a backflip,” and it would all be over. n
KISS Breakfast with Jordan and Perri launches 3 August. Go to Kissfmuk.com