Britain’s Got Talent winners Diversity talk to Forge Press about their rise to fame, Michael Jackson’s death and their desire to stay in education.
It’s May 30, 2009, and while a third of the country’s entire population sat down to see Susan Boyle crowned winner of Britain’s Got Talent, 11 young dancers from Essex prepared to cause the biggest shock in reality television history.
Diversity wowed judges and fans alike with their inspirational street dance routines and defied odds of 20-1 to win the grand final, with nearly 25 per cent of the public vote.
After scooping the £100,000 prize, the group have gone from strength to strength, performing at a host of top events and even drawing acclaim from the late Michael Jackson.
“The last six months have been an absolute whirlwind,” says Ashley Banjo, the leader and choreographer of the group.
“When people ask what we’ve done since Britain’s Got Talent, it’s almost like what haven’t we done.
“We’ve recorded a film, performed at the Mobo Awards and danced outside 10 Downing Street. It’s been crazy.”
“We don’t get much time to ourselves these days but we’re getting to live the dream and loving every minute, so it doesn’t matter,” said one of the older dancers, Terry Smith.
“We get to get up every day and do what we love doing, it’s the best thing in the world.”
After winning the show, Diversity will now perform in front of the Queen at the Royal Variety Performance in December, and Ashley says the group is looking forward to giving a special performance.
He said: “We’re going to be doing a brand new routine and trying to push the level of difficultly up, we’ll be taking more risks and hopefully it will be a landmark performance for us. We want it to be something everyone remembers.”
The group were delighted to hear praise from one of their icons, Michael Jackson after winning the hit series and were stunned when Jackson asked them to appear alongside him at his series of London concerts.
“It was a massive thing to find out he had been watching us on TV and was a fan,” said Ike Ezekwugo, another of the group’s older members.
“To think that Michael Jackson, who was a legend himself, wanted us to go on tour with him is incredible. He was such an inspiration to all of us that it would have been amazing, but unfortunately it didn’t happen.”
News of Jackson’s death, just weeks after revealing his admiration for Diversity, shocked the group, as the members remember well.
“It was a really sad time for us when we heard the news that he had died,” said Ashley.
“Not only was it sad on a personal level, but it also obviously meant that we couldn’t go on his tour. It was a double blow for us.”
Ike said: “We were on tour when we found out that he had died and that day was a really sad one for everyone. Normally everyone is really happy and bouncing around but hearing the news was terrible, everyone was really down.”
With the group’s members ranging in age, from 13 to 26, touring the country is an interesting experience with the group becoming almost one big family. But despite the glamour of life on the road, the younger members of the group are never far away from their schoolwork.
Mitchell Craske, aged 13 said: “When we are away on the road we get given work from school to do on the tour bus. We have to make sure we don’t miss out on any work.”
“Education’s key” added Jordan Banjo, aged 16.
Several members of Diversity were studying at university when they first appeared on Britain’s Got Talent, and despite the group being in hot demand for TV work and live events, education remains important for even the older members of the group.
This summer saw group members Ize Ezekwugo and Terry Smith graduate with university degrees, and despite the troupe’s rise to fame and fortune it’s unlikely that those two will be the last to don the cap and gown.
When initially auditioning for the show, the group’s figurehead Ashley Banjo was studying a Masters degree in physics and biology, but despite his rise to showbiz prominence, he is still committed to completing his course
He said: “I think it’s important to have something to fall back on as you never know what the future holds. I’ve personally deferred a year of my course and I’m keen to go back and carry on next year.
“I’m lucky to be in a position where I can finish off my degree when I get a chance. It’s always good to continue your education, and have a plan B in case something goes wrong.”
While many of the group are keen to advance themselves academically, there are no signs that they will need to use their back up plans just yet.
Ashley has landed a judging role on a new reality show Just Dance while the group themselves are preparing their first tour of Britain and have even been given a role in a new movie, Street Dance 3D which will hit the big screen in May next year.
Ashley said: “We were very honored to get a role in the first British street dance film and can’t wait to see it on screen.
“We’re also going on tour next year for the first time on our own, doing a full hour and a half show which is filled with big high energy routines.”
The group were in Sheffield to switch on the Christmas lights at Meadowhall shopping centre, with thousands gathering to see their performance, which saw a special routine in tribute to Michael Jackson.
Jordan Banjo said: “It’s great to come up here and do something like this and meet the fans. It’s amazing that so many people turned up. I didn’t realise we had so many fans in Sheffied.”