Who is Ashley Banjo and what is his net worth?
DIVERSITY leader Ashley Banjo shot to fame on Britain’s Got Talent.
Since then he has taken the world of TV by storm and is now back on the box as a judge for the Dancing on Ice 2022 series.
Who is Ashley Banjo?
English street dancer, choreographer and actor Ashley Modurotolu Banjo was born October 4, 1988 and grew up in Wickford, Essex, with his younger brother, Jordan and his sister Talisa Banjo.
He went to St Johns School in Billericay and studied physics and biology at Queen Mary, University of London, after previously attending SEEVIC College.
Having completed his first two years, he took a break from studying to concentrate on his dancing.
This followed his win on Britain’s Got Talent third series in 2009 with his troupe Diversity, which also includes his brother Jordan, amongst other members.
He has since appeared in other shows on the box.
Ashley co-hosted BBC One’s Saturday night show Can’t Touch This with Zoë Ball in 2016.
In August 2020, following Simon Cowell’s bike injury and subsequent recovery, he was picked to appear on the judging panel during the live semi-final and final show of Britain’s Got Talent 14th series.
What is his net worth?
After years in the industry, and many TV appearances, Ashley has racked up an impressive net worth.
According to Wealthygenius.com, his net worth is estimated at $1.5 million as of 2021.
This is equivalent to just over £1 million.
Is Ashley Banjo married?
Ashley married his wife Francesca Abbott, a professional dancer and talent manager in 2015.
They have two children together.
Rose and Micah, respectively born in 2019 and 2020.
How did Ashley Banjo become famous?
In 2007, Ashley and his younger brother Jordan formed dance group 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 in 2009.
The troupe went onto win the third series of ITV talent show Britain’s Got Talent – beating off hot favourite Susan Boyle, who came second.
All the judges heavily praised their performances throughout the competition, with Ashley’s choreography being described by Amanda Holden as “genius”.
In the final, referring to their winning performance, judge Simon Cowell said: “If I was going to give marks on that, that is the only performance tonight I would give a 10 to.”
As winners of the competition, Diversity received £100,000 (around £9,090 per member) and went on to perform before the Queen at the Royal Variety Show in December 2009.
What other TV shows has he appeared on?
Since winning BGT, Ashley’s stock has risen to new heights.
Alongside continuing his commitments to Diversity, he has appeared on a number of television shows.
Chief among them was being a judge on Sky1’s Got to Dance talent show, where Diversity made regular guest appearances.
He also co-presented BBC’s Can’t Touch This with Zoe Ball, while switching to ITV as a judge on Dance Dance Dance.
In 2018, he joined the panel for Dancing on Ice alongside Olympic ice dance gold medallists Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, and John Barrowman.
In December 2021, he was back with his Full Monty shows, this time called Strictly The Full Monty.
As of January 2022, Ashley will be appearing as a judge on the new season of Dancing on Ice.