Alesha Dixon
From singer and presenter to author of children’s superhero books, Alesha Dixon is penning a new chapter, as she tells Angela Wintle
The Britain’s Got Talent judge can turn her hand to singing, presenting and writing – but she’d secretly love to be in a movie
From her chiselled cheekbones to her long, toned legs, Alesha Dixon is so physically striking it’s easy to underestimate her. Her looks and edgy fashion sense may dominate the headlines, but she’s also whip-smart and unflappable. It’s no accident that she has been a perennial face on prime-time television for a decade.
Nevertheless, Alesha is full of surprises. Having already proved herself as a successful recording artist, presenter and businesswoman, she has now penned the third in a series of bestselling children’s books about Aurora Beam, an ordinary schoolgirl with extraordinary superpowers. And, like Alesha, Aurora happens to be mixed race. The books were an instant hit when they launched last year. So much so that the first in the series, Lightning Girl, was one of the biggest-selling middle-grade UK publishing debuts.
Alesha came up with the idea for Aurora after reading aloud to her five-year-old daughter, Azura, and realising there was a hole in the market. “Not only did I think about the characters my daughter reads, I also thought back to my own childhood and I didn’t read about a single mixed-race girl,” she says.
“At the time it didn’t even seem abnormal.
I’d read my Roald Dahl and Enid Blyton and didn’t even consider it. It wasn’t until I saw Neneh Cherry performing on Top Of The Pops when I was nine that I remember turning to my mum and saying, ‘Oh my goodness, there are people on television who look like me.’” In this day and age, she argues, children of any
ethnicity should be able to pick up a book and see themselves reflected in its pages.
“If I can be the person who ticks that box for a certain demographic then that’s a great thing,” says Alesha.
Her greatest reward, though, has been the reaction of parents who have written to say her books have encouraged their child to read for the first time. Alesha has also relished meeting her young readers.
“School visits are one of my favourite things to do,” she smiles. “I even got the chance to go into my daughter’s primary school, although it was a bit strange for her to see Mummy standing up in front of the class. It’s lovely when children ask about my characters, what’s going to happen next or what inspired me to write the books.
“When I visit secondary schools I get the chance to explore meatier subjects, whether it’s bullying, teenage insecurities or the fear of standing out from the crowd. Children often tell me they feel unsure or confused and I feel it’s my job in those moments to encourage them to recognise that they have something unique to offer. They don’t have to be like their peers or compromise who they are. Being who they are is good enough.”
Fortuitously, her first book coincided with the release of the Marvel film Black Panther, which also featured a black superhero. Does she think this reflects a change in the way people of colour are represented in the arts?
“Absolutely. It took Marvel films to produce a black superhero movie on that scale for the world to wake up. You can’t get away with ignoring a huge part of society any more. No one can ever say again that black people can’t sell movies, books or records.”
And Alesha should know. When she was starting out with British girl group Mis-teeq in the late 1990s, a record label executive told their manager black girls wouldn’t sell records – before the trio went on to enjoy huge success with three double-platinum albums.
Those unenlightened times may be over, but the fact that ethnicity remains a subject for debate underlines the fact there is still work to do, she insists. So does she think the negativity channelled towards the Duchess of Sussex has been motivated by racial prejudice, whether consciously or unconsciously?
“I may be naive, but actually that wasn’t my first thought,” she shrugs. “The reality is when you’re that famous you’re inevitably going to attract negative comment. I also believe that women in general are more of a target.
“When I first got the call to do Britain’s Got Talent, Amanda Holden suggested we went for a coffee and we made a pact. We agreed that the media would try to pit us against each other but we wanted to be responsible role models for women. From day one, we’ve had each other’s backs and become really good friends. Thankfully, the negative coverage only lasted for my first series on the show and that’s because our actions spoke louder than any petty stories.”
Nevertheless, Alesha has had her own inner voices to contend with and admits she sobbed for two weeks as her 40th birthday approached last October.
“I hope I’m grounded enough to stop vanity and ego running my life”
“I was definitely not in the best place,” she confesses. “Although it’s funny looking back, because I’m usually the most positive person I know. I think it was the realisation that life flashes past so quickly. I remember turning 30 like it was yesterday.”
As she enters her fifth decade, does she worry about ageing and the pressures on older women in television?
“No, it’s a waste of energy. I also hope I’m grounded enough to stop vanity and ego running my life. You have to own the age you are and not see it as a hindrance. My attitude is, with all the experience I have, I’ll do even better. I have so many unfulfilled ambitions and there’s a part of me that feels quite unsatisfied creatively.
“I have all these brilliant jobs so I don’t like to moan, but I really miss being on stage. I’d love to get back into the recording studio and work on music, because that’s what really satisfies my soul. I’d also love to act in a movie.”
In the meantime, her TV schedule keeps her more than occupied. She was delighted when 14-year-old Ellie Ferguson won the first series of the BBC’S latest talent vehicle, The Greatest Dancer, particularly as she was the shyest contestant and the only solo performer. It marked a personal triumph for Alesha, too, because the show has been commissioned for a second series. “By the final, we were neck and neck with ITV’S The Voice, an established show,” she says. “The BBC is over the moon and we can only get better from here.”
It says a lot that the BBC chose Alesha to host this new, untested format, although she wasn’t fazed by the weight of expectation or the pressures of live TV. “I actually like the fact that things go wrong. That’s entertaining in itself. And as I told my co-host, Jordan Banjo, it’s only telly.”
She is gearing up for the latest series of Britain’s Got Talent next month, which will see the return of Ant Mcpartlin after a troubled year in which he has tackled his messy divorce and a drink-driving conviction. This subject is strictly off limits, although Alesha is happy to talk about the crèche-like vibe behind the scenes now all the show’s judges have become parents.
“When I started, the judges’ room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Now, we’ve got kids running around, dogs running around... but it’s more a reflection of the family nature of the show,” she says.
As usual, all eyes will be on Alesha and Amanda’s outfits. “Whenever Simon Cowell looks appalled and asks me what I’m wearing I give a little cheer because it means I’ve got my outfit right,” she jokes. She maintains that she doesn’t follow a strict gym regime and even allows herself the odd foodie treat.
“I’m a pescatarian who lives quite a vegan lifestyle. I’ve given up chocolate but if I fancy a vegan pizza I’ll eat one. I’m not one of those people who thinks I can’t eat that doughnut. I’ll say to myself, ‘No, I’ll eat the doughnut and then find a dress to fit around it.’ At the same time, I listen to my body. If I’m feeling sluggish, I know I have to up my fruit and veg intake.”
She’s protective of her private life and declines to talk about her plans (or otherwise) for more children with long-term partner, choreographer Azuka Ononye. Away from the spotlight, at home in Hertfordshire, she likes nothing more than walking her four dogs in the woods. “I like being in the now. When you work in this crazy industry, all you want to do in your downtime is nothing.”
As far as her professional life is concerned, however, she is more open to new adventures than ever. “Ultimately, it’s all about attitude,” she says. “You can be your own worst enemy and say I’m 40, my career’s over. But my take on it is, I’m 40, I’m empowered and I’m about to enter the best part of my life.”
Secret Supervillain Vs Lightning Girl by
Alesha Dixon (Scholastic, £6.99), is out now in paperback. See Express Bookshop on page 77.