Ashley Banjo, the 36-year-old star of Diversity and Dancing On Ice, has opened up about experiencing 'dad guilt' during the Christmas season due to his demanding work schedule.
Despite separating from his childhood sweetheart, Francesca, in 2022 after 16 years together, the pair continue to co-parent their children, Rose, 5, and Micah, 4. Banjo revealed how he spends his brief time off during the holidays, making every moment with his children and loved ones count before diving back into work.
He told The Sun : "We only get Christmas Day and New Year's day off generally, so it's become a bit of a tradition for us to literally perform, come back from wherever we're doing, spend the day with the kids and the family and stuff, and then shoot back to work."
While acknowledging the challenges of his demanding schedule, Banjo expressed his deep gratitude for being able to pursue a career that has been his lifelong passion. He emphasised how much he values his role as a performer, even during the busiest times of the year.
Banjo said: "It's a real catch 22 because we love what we do. I said to someone the other day that I don't take for granted doing pantomimes and doing shows because we get to spend the months on stage, a couple of times a day, doing what we love, doing what we're good at - entertaining crowds."
Image:
Instagram/francescabanjo)Reflecting on his career with Diversity, Banjo marveled at the longevity of his group and the impact they continue to have. He said: "It was obviously our passion first. I've been in the group with some of the boys for 25 years. I look around and think, my God, we're still doing this to sold out audiences of thousands at a time."
Banjo also opened up about the emotional challenges of balancing work and family life, particularly the sacrifices that come with being a parent. He spoke candidly about the guilt many fathers feel when work commitments take precedence saying: "So you pay the bills, you provide, you do what you love, you've got a family, but I just think that dads in general (and mums) that there is a thing with dads where you have to make choices more so, and you have to make sacrifices - and you have to decide where you want to be.
"Sometimes being there doesn't always mean directly being there in the room. Sometimes you've got a job to do. So it's a catch 22, isn't it? That guilt. But as much as I can be there, I am absolutely."
Banjo and his dance group, Diversity, are starring in the pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk at Southampton's Mayflower Theatre. The show runs from December 24, 2024, to January 5, 2025.
In this production, Banjo and Diversity perform energetic dance routines and musical numbers, bringing a modern twist to the classic fairy tale. Their performances are known for combining street dance with traditional pantomime elements.
Tickets for Jack and the Beanstalk are available through the Mayflower Theatre's official website.
Follow Mirror Celebs on Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .
English (US) ·