Diversity burst onto our screens back in 2009 with their slick moves, inventive storytelling and positive attitude.
The group consisted of 20 members including some recognisable faces like Ashley Banjo, Jordan Banjo and Perri Kiely.
Their members ranged from 17 to 36 years old, with dancers from all backgrounds, shapes and sizes, popping and locking their way into the nation’s living rooms and hearts.
The group proved they were a force to be reckoned with when they sailed through the competition, receiving a full house of yes votes in their audition and beating singing powerhouse Susan Boyle in the Britain’s Got Talent final, but what have the dancers been up to since their initial fame?
Perri Kiely
(Image: Getty Images)
Essex born Perri’s signature locks made him instantly recognisable on the Britain’s Got Talent stage and the talented dancer has gone on to land a host role on popular radio station KISS.
The 26-year-old dancer has presented the radio show KISS Breakfast with fellow Diversity member Jordan Banjo since 2020 and was a runner up on Dancing on Ice the same year.
He took part in Celebs Go Dating in 2017 but he got lucky in love when he competed in Dancing On Ice, which led him to 25-year-old production assistant Laura, who worked behind the scenes on the show.
The couple officially announced their romance in August last year.
Perri gave this adorable statement on KISS Breakfast: “I feel energised! It’s off my chest! It’s taken me 24 years and a global pandemic, but I got there in the end.”
Sam Craske
(Image: Sam Craske/Instagram)
Sam’s brother Mitchell is also a member of Diversity, and the group toured with Little Mix in 2014.
Sam, 28, dated Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall for two years before the pair split in 2013, but Sam moved on and tried his hands at Celebs Go Dating.
The star now has 144,000 Instagram followers and 151.6k followers on TikTok, where he regularly posts skit style videos, selfies and outfit pictures.
Ashley Banjo
(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Ashley led the dance troupe to stardom when they appeared on Britain’s Got Talent and quickly became the face of the group after receiving yes votes from all three judges.
The group won a Pride of Britain award and Ashley choreographed, produced and directed their arena tour.
The dancer has gone on to many presenting roles including Sky1’s Got To Dance, BBC’s Can’t Touch This, and he even stood in for Simon Cowell where it all began.
He replaced Simon on Britain’s Got Talent in September and October 2020 after the music mogul had a motorcycle accident.
Since 2018 he has also judged Dancing On Ice.
This year environmental activist Ashley also partnered with Persil and Sky Nature in a collaborative project aimed at encouraging environmental action.
Ashton Russell
(Image: Instagram)
This cheeky dancer enjoyed his fame with Diversity and has gone on to pursue a career in music.
He regularly releases songs, promotes them on Instagram and recently directed his own music video for his new single Might Aswell.
He announced in September that he will be dropping an album soon.
Ashton actually didn’t dance with Diversity on BGT, but rejoined the troupe in 2011.
Jordan Banjo
(Image: Bauer Media for Getty Images)
Banjo brother Jordan presents KISS Breakfast with his pal Perri and the pair have become quite the double act since their Diversity days.
The dynamic duo presented backstage on Got To Dance, hosted their own television show and the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards before he went on to take part in I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2016.
The dancer has admitted that during Diversity’s rise to stardom he weighed 23 stone which made him feel like a ‘fraud’ as a dancer.
He appeared on BGT at 16 years old and told the Loose Women: “Compare me to the other boys, all they’ve got to do is sneeze and they get an ab. I looked at a slice of chocolate cake and it felt like I gained a stone and that was always the way.”
Ike Chuks
(Image: Instagram)
Since his Diversity days, Ike has gone on to have a successful music career.
He regularly shares backstage clips and new release updates on his Instagram profile, where he keeps his 30.3k followers up to date with his life.
He released his album Son Of The Soil in 2017, and more recently an EP titled Igbotic in 2020 and Mutual Feelings in 2021.
His most popular song has over 290,000 plays on Spotify and he has over a thousand monthly listeners.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
