'FATHERHOOD IS THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD'

ASHLEY BANJO MBE ON BEING A DAD, FINDING HIS INDIVIDUALITY AND WHY HE'S TAKING UNLIKELY STYLE NOTES FROM SIMON COWELL

- ZOE CRIPPS

Life really is busy when you’re as in demand as Ashley Banjo. Leader of the dance troupe Diversity – who soared to fame after winning Britain’s Got Talent in 2009 – one of the Dancing On Ice judging panel and upcoming star of the new West End musical The Wizard Of Oz, he certainly knows a thing or two about time management.

It seems he also knows a fair bit about style, as the 34-year-old has dropped a summer edit with Peacocks – a collaboration he calls both “scary and exciting”, and a natural next step on from his dancing career.

The star, who received an MBE for services to dance in 2022, is also a new addition to Britain’s (unofficial) most eligible bachelor list, having announced his split from his wife Francesca back in December. However, his relationship status is something he’s rather tight-lipped about, so there’s no telling whether he’ll be wearing pieces from his new collection out on first dates!

What we do know is he takes his job as a dad very seriously. Ashley’s keen to educate his kids – daughter Rose, four, and son Micah, two – on the importance of putting trust in their own judgement rather than in others who “might not always offer the best advice”.

Here, we catch up with the star about parenting, finding his style, stripping naked in front of 2,000 people (spoiler: not a recurring nightmare) and Simon Cowell’s trousers…

This is a new venture for you! Can you tell us a bit about your style?