Ashley Banjo, the leader of the dance troupe Diversity, has confessed that he was incredibly naive about the scale of Britain's Got Talent before he and his brother Jordan shot to fame in 2009. The brothers, now 37 and 33 respectively, became household names after winning the third series of the ITV talent show, famously beating the favourite Susan Boyle in a tense final.
A Different World Back Then
Reflecting on that time, Ashley said: "Honestly, I can't explain to you how naive I was back then. It was only year three in Britain's Got Talent, so it was all still relatively fresh. It was a case of 'yeah, let's just go and compete, have a good time, see how we do.'" He added that while they had won competitions before, nothing compared to the exposure of performing in front of Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Piers Morgan, and millions of viewers.
The brothers believe the show has changed dramatically since their victory. Jordan noted: "It's a completely different beast now. You can watch an episode of Britain's Got Talent through TikTok with about five clicks. When we went on, a show like that was the only way to access the entertainment world."
Staying Grounded Through Family
Despite the pressures of fame, the Banjo brothers have remained grounded thanks to their close family ties. Their mother Ash still manages Diversity, and the group remains tight-knit. Jordan described Ashley as his rock and mentor: "Whenever I feel I need anything or have an issue, the first person I ring is Ash because there aren't many people in the world who understand exactly the same."
Ashley admitted the experience was emotionally challenging: "I don't want to ever use the word tough because there are people who have a much harder time. But from a human, emotional point of view, it wasn't a normal environment to grow up in and go through those formative years." He added that they were making a blueprint for dance groups, getting things right and wrong along the way.
New Venture: Winnrz Wednesdays
The brothers are now teaming up for a new project away from Diversity. They are hosting a live YouTube show called Winnrz Wednesdays, where viewers can shop to win prizes ranging from cash to tech and holidays. Jordan said: "This is probably one of the first things me and Ashley have done together. It's literally how we are off camera, but on camera. It's just good fun."
Jad Toubayly, Founder and CEO of Winnrz, explained why they chose the Banjo brothers: "They have an energy that matched our vibe. They work very well together and saw this as an opportunity to join forces and put smiles on people's faces."
Viewers can watch the live draw every Wednesday on the Winnrz YouTube channel. The brothers advise BGT hopefuls to stay "unapologetically you" and remember that reality shows are now just one of many paths to success.
