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Diversity

Diversity (Previously named Swift Moves Juniors) are a street dance group who won Series 3 of Britain's Got Talent. The group were formed in 2006, and hailed from Essex. They were aged between 12 and 25 at the time of their audition.

The group was led by Ashley Banjo, who before their audition explained the name of the group; 'Apart from dancing, there's university, school, college, IT solutions, telecoms engineers... we're diverse - ages, race, heights, hairstyles - we're just a diverse group of people'.

As they entered the stage for their audition, one member of the group placed a gym bag at the back of the stage before joining the rest to introduce themselves, whilst another member, Perri Kiely, began the performance backstage.

The group began their audition with hoods over their faces, the first line of Martin Luther King's famous 'I Have a Dream' speech playing before the group broke into their routine. Perri entered the stage midway through the performance, before another member, Mitchell Craske, emerged from the gym bag to join the performance. Amanda remarked 'just when I think I've seen it all and nothing could get any better, you came on', with Piers adding 'you are right up there with the best of the dancers you've seen'.

The group were the first act to perform in the first Semi-Final. In the Semi-Finals, they performed another routine, incorporating a robbery scene into their performance, in which Mitchell was lowered down onto the stage and Perri portrayed a policeman. Piers described the group as 'fantastic', with Simon adding 'what you've done collectively over the past few weeks to prepare for this is sensational'. The group finished second in their Semi-Final, behind Susan Boyle.

Their Final routine incorporated Mitchell entering the stage dressed as Superman, before pulling off his clothes to join the routine alongside the rest of the group. Three group members then put on red hats, which were then pressed in turn, representing the 'buzzers' on Britain's Got Talent. Amanda remarked 'you have practically rendered me speechless Ashley - your choreography is second to none [and I think you have blown Flawless out of the water', with Simon adding 'It was sheer and utter perfection'. They won the competition ahead of singer and big favourite Susan Boyle, and saxophonist Julian Smith.

After BGT[]

Since their BGT win they have returned to the show as guest performers on a yearly basis either dancing as guest performers in one of the five Semi-Finals or the Final. Their Series 11 performance however differed in the fact that Robert Ankar had died following a car crash in 2017 and as such and was no longer a member of the group, and their Series 13 guest performance also differed in that they had Series 12 contestants DVJ join them as part of their routine on the stage.

Diversity became Patrons of Dance Aid organised by the UK Registered Charity, Hope for Children in 2009, before going on to perform at the Wireless Festival in Hyde Park, London and T4 on the Beach in Weston-super-Mare. In August 2009, Diversity performed at Blackpool's Winter Gardens in a Michael Jackson tribute alongside George Sampson and Aidan Davis, with this performance having taken place on the same weekend as the World Street Dancing championships.

Additionally in 2009, the group performed in London to launch the new Disney channel Disney XD, performed outside 10 Downing Street in front of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, appeared in the Gracious K music video "Migraine Skank" alongside dance group Flawless and switched on Christmas lights at Chapelfield shopping centre in Norwich, Meadowhall Shopping Centre in Sheffield, and in Watford.

In 2010, Jordan Banjo appeared on StreetDance 3D. Between 2012 and 2014, Jordan appeared on Ashley Banjo's Secret Street Crew, Got to Dance, Got to Dance: Auditions Uncut, Jordan and Perri's Ultimate Block Party, Jordan and Perri's Xmas Slime, and Nickelodeon's Kids Choice Awards. Diversity promoted street dancing with Change4Life in January as a means of getting kids and families more active.

Additionally in 2010, the group teamed up with national retailer The Range Home and Leisure for a commercial to be shown in April and May, with the tagline "If you like Diversity, you'll love The Range" and adverts for food for "great little ideas", and released their own fitness DVD called Diversity Dance Fitness Fusion. In 2011, Ashley appeared upon The Real Hustle, The Magicians, The Apprentice & Text Santa.

Diversity were among the many torch bearers in London's 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, completing their leg of the journey on 22nd July 2012. Diversity performed at the Royal Variety Performance 2012 for the 2nd time, however this time performed alongside Spelbound, Stavros Flatley and Paul Potts. In 2012 & 2013 Ashley served as a panellist for an episode of Celebrity Juice.

In 2012, Ashley won an episode of The Cube and split the donation money that he had won between the NSPCC and Beatbullying. In 2013, Ashley appeared in an episode of British Comedy-Drama Stella. In February 2014, Perri won the second series of Splash!.

Members of Diversity have also partook within a number of advertisements which include ITV - Where The Entertainers Live, a series of videos for Cadbury Marvellous Mix-Ups, a number of videos and judging for British Gas Generation Green Energy Performance, a number of adverts for Transformers toys, and itvplayer's Ready When You Are. 

Diversity took part in the closing ceremony of the first Invictus Games in 2014, with their set including the Corps of Drums from Her Majesty's Band of The Royal Marines alongside three members of Diversity Juniors, who later partook in a Diversity performance on Got to Dance within the same year. In the same year, both Ashley & Perri competed upon an episode of Release the Hounds: Jingle Hell, wherein they won £12,000 which they split between the NSPCC & BeatBullying.

Several members of Diversity also appeared upon Ashley Banjo's Big Town Dance in 2014, alongside Stars at Your Service. In the same year Perri appeared as a guest on CBBC show 'Hacker Time', whilst Ashley appeared as a guest on 'This Morning'.

Diversity Live broadcast on 4th January 2015, during which the group talked about how various dances that have inspired them and the major influences who have helped them along the way. Within the same year Warren Russell served as a judge at the first ever Balfour Beatty London Youth Games dance competition, the group provided the opening performance for VE Day 70: A Party to Remember in Horse Guards Parade, London. Additionally in 2015, Ashley appeared upon You're Back in the Room as a guest alongside Perri, and presented Perspectives Michael Jackson's Thriller with Ashley Banjo.

Between 2015 and 2018, Jordan appeared on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, and Dancing On Ice. In 2016, Ashley Banjo co-hosted a BBC game show named Can't Touch This alongside Zoe Ball between the March and October of that year, yet the pair did not return to host the show the following year as the BBC had made the decision to axe the show.

Between November 2016 and March 201, Perri Kiely appeared on the second series of Celebs Go Dating. Although it was not officially announced, Ike Chuks left the group in early 2016 to pursue his music career. Diversity also returned to ITV in 2016, wherein they starred in two episodes of the Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway segment "Who Shot Simon Cowell?". The group also returned to ITV in the New Year to promote their new ITV special Diversity Presents Steal The Show. Ashley Banjo was also a judge on the Strictly Come Dancing rival show Dance Dance Dance.

Since 2017, Ashley Banjo has been co hosting cancer awareness show The Real Full Monty alongside Alexander Armstrong. In 2017, Ashley presented a TV special entitled A Night for the Emergency Services, competed on a celebrity special of Catchphrase, became the Roving Reporter for the Pride of Britain Awards, became a judge upon All Round to Mrs. Brown's for an episode, and presented 'Diversity Presents Steal the Show'. Additionally in 2017, both Ashley & Perri appeared upon an episode of CBBC's 'The Playlist'.

Since 2018, Ashley has also been a judge on the revived series of Dancing On Ice, along with Jordan Banjo as the backstage digital host for the 2018 series, before Jordan was replaced by 2018 contestant Kem Cetinay in the role. In March 2018, both Ashley and Jordan Banjo participated in the I'm a Celebrity...Get Out of Me Ear segment of Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.

Diversity were growing too old so wanted to replace themselves with younger diversity dancers, otherwise known as DVJ who auditioned for Series 12. DVJ stood for Diversity junior, and the dancers from DVJ had been coached by Ashley Banjo, and Perri Kiely. DVJ had rehearsed for over three weeks to learn the dance routine that they auditioned for Series 12 with. Despite DVJ's advantage via Ashley and Perri coaching them they still reached the Final in Series 12, wherein they ultimately placed sixth.

Additionally in 2018, Jordan competed on Celebrity Catchphrase playing for charity WellChild, Sam Craske appeared on Celebs Go Dating and Perri won an episode of 'The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off'.

Between 2019 & 2020, Jordan hosted BBC's The Greatest Dancer, alongside Britain's Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon. As of February 2019 Jordan & Perri have hosted a show on Kiss Radio during the weekends, however by early August 2020 the duo stopped hosting this show and instead began hosting the Breakfast Show every weekday.

In 2019, Perri Kiely and Jordan Banjo both appeared as guests on Step Up to the Plate, Ashley Banjo appeared as a guest chef on Sunday Brunch, and began presenting Channel 4's 'Flirty Dancing'. Over Christmas in 2019 Diversity appeared in a Christmas pantomime of Robin Hood with Ashley Banjo in the title role, this being the third consecutive year that they appeared in a Christmas pantomime.

In 2020, the group appeared during the first live show of The Greatest Dancer as Guest Performers, Perri Kiely placed as runner-up on the years series of Dancing On Ice alongside professional skating partner Vanessa Bauer, Ashley Banjo appeared via video call in a Tesco advert for their 'Food Love Stories' thanking Stacey Solomon for dedicating a Chocolate Cheesecake that she had made to him and the group performed a routine in Dagenham during 'Black Lives Matter'.

Additionally in 2020, Jordan competed upon the penultimate episode of Stephen Mulhern's new game show named 'Rolling In It' alongside a member of the public named Ashley, yet the duo lost their episode, Ashley Banjo acted as a guest judge for the BGT 2020 Semi-Finals, following Simon Cowells back injury and Diversity had a guest performance wherein they performed a routine based on the Black Lives Matter movement.

Towards the end of 2020, Jordan competed on an episode of The Chase: Celebrity Special, both Ashley & Jordan Banjo appeared on the Pride of Britain Awards in order to present a Child of Courage award, and both Jordan & Perri appeared upon the final episode of 'Martin & Roman's Sunday Best!'. Within this time period, Ashley appeared in the new advert for 'Portal' from Facebook via video call alongside 'This Morning' presenter Holly Willoughby who was on the other end of the call within the ad.

Later in 2020, Jordan & Perri competed on an episode of Celebrity Crystal Maze, Perri appeared on 'The Real Full Monty: On Ice', both Jordan & Perri competed on an episode of Celebrity Supermarket Sweep and Jordan appeared upon the 'Celebrity Catchphrase: Christmas Special'.

In Winter 2020, Diversity performed alongside both George Sampson & DVJ during the Britain's Got Talent Christmas Spectacular. The trio performed a Christmas themed dance routine, with Diversity joining a member of DVJ upon the stage at the end of the performance, before the performance ended with the words 'Reach Out This Christmas' appearing in writing on the back of the stage. In the same Winter, season Jordan competed upon a celebrity episode of 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' in which he played for charity.

In 2021, the groups Black Lives matter routine won the BAFTA 'must-see moment' award.[1] Within the same year Ashley appeared upon an episode of 'The Jonathan Ross Show', both Ashley & Jordan Banjo appeared upon an episode of CBBC's 'The Ultimate Playlist', Jordan competed on the first series of The Masked Dancer UK as the 'Viper' wherein he was the first contestant eliminated.[2] Within the same year Ashley appeared upon an episode of 'Martin & Roman's Weekend Best!' and hosted new ITV Game show 'The Void' alongside Fleur East.

In September 2021, Ashley, Jordan & Perri appeared upon an episode of 'Celebrity Gogglebox' as a part of C4's 'Black to Front Friday' which aimed to push black talent to the forefront of the television line up, and Ashley fronted the ITV Documentary 'Ashley Banjo: Britain in Black and White', which was the second of three Black History Month documentaries to air on the channel.

Ashley also co-hosted the pre-recorded 'Pride of Britain Awards' in 2021, alongside Carol Vorderman. In addition to this both Jordan & Perri were present amongst the celebrity guests in the audience, before Jordan later left to camp out at Twickenham Stadium for the night with 'Spirit of Adventure Award' winner Max Woosey & his father.[3]

In December 2021, Jordan appeared upon an episode of 'Michael McIntyre's The Wheel' on BBC1, both Jordan & Perri competed on a celebrity special of ITV's 'The Cube', and Perri competed on a celebrity special of ITV's 'Catchphrase'. Throughout 2021 Ashley partnered with both detergent brand Persil and TV channel Sky Nature in order to make a series of short films which highlighted environmental action.

In early 2022, Ashley became an MBE, and hosted a TV Show entitled 'Dance Monsters'.[4] Within the same year Jordan competed upon an episode of 'Tipping Point: Lucky Stars'. Diversity returned to BGT as Guest Performers during Semi-Finals wherein they performed a dance routine based on society's overreliance on technology, before performing at the BBC's 'Platinum Party at the Palace' in celebration of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

Later in 2022, Jordan appeared upon an episode of 'Love Island: Aftersun', & Perri, Jordan & Ashley appeared upon an episode of 'Blue Peter'. In October 2022, Jordan appeared upon an episode of ITV's 'Loose Women' occasional spin-off known as 'Loose Men' as a panellist and Ashley co-hosted the pre-recorded 'Pride of Britain Awards', alongside Carol Vorderman for the second consecutive year.

In November 2022, the group appeared as guest performers upon the BBC's coverage of 'Children In Need'. In December 2022, Ashley appeared upon a segment of 'Royal Carols: Together at Christmas' wherein celebrities reflected upon the life of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

In February 2023, Ashley appeared upon an episode of 'The Graham Norton Show' and an episode of 'The John Bishop Show', Jordan and Perri appeared upon an episode of 'Sunday Brunch' on Channel 4, and Diversity conducted a guest performance upon an episode of 'Dancing On Ice' which Ashley is a judge upon.[5][6]

In March 2023, Jordan appeared upon an episode of 'Loose Women', Jordan appeared virtually upon a special 'I'm A Celebrity: All Stars' variant of the game 'Read My Lips' on the fifth episode of Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway on and the group appeared as special guest performers on Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway as a part of the same episodes 'End Of The Show, Show' segment.

In May 2023, Jordan placed as Runner-Up to Myleene Klass upon the All-Stars variant of I'm A Celebrity entitled 'I'm A Celebrity... South Africa' and Diversity returned to BGT as Guest Performers.

In June 2023, Ashley returned to BGT as a Guest Performer once again playing the Tin Man as a part of the cast of The Wizard of Oz, both Jordan & Perri appeared upon an episode of 'The Chris & Rosie Ramsey Show', and Ashley and the cast of The Wizard of Oz appeared upon an episode of ‘The One Show’.[7]

Controversy[]

The groups 2020 performance was inspired by the 'Black Lives Matter' movement, and received over 20,000 complaints, alongside several messages of support. The group also defended their performance, and it was heavily discussed upon Good Morning Britain by Piers Morgan & Susanna Reid between Monday 14th September to Wednesday 16th September. On Wednesday 16th September however ITV released a statement in support of Diversity's performance. The following day on Thursday 17th September Ofcom stated that they would not investigate the groups performance, despite the large number of complaints.

Trivia[]

  • They are the third winner/winners of Britain's Got Talent. First was Paul Potts and second was George Sampson.
  • They are the first group to win.
  • Diversity are the first, act to win the show despite not winning their Semi-Final.
  • They are the first act to win the show despite relying on the Judge’s choice to make the finals, they were followed by Jon Courtenay in Series 14.
  • According to the Daily Mail the group were offered the opportunity to compete upon the show upon being discovered by BGT's Talent Scouts from Simon's company Syco.[8]
  • Ashley is the first ever former BGT Contestant to be a Guest Judge.
  • Jordan Banjo is the first ever BGT Alumni to appear on a show in the British Version of The Masked Singer / The Masked Dancer Series of Shows.
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