Jordan Banjo is a busy man. A proud dad to three young children, Cassius, six, Mimi, five, and 19-month-old Atreus, who he shares with wife Naomi, 32, Jordan may escape the school run but he has the joys of getting up “way before everyone else”.
As the Breakfast Show DJ for KISS radio with his best mate Perry Kiely, he gets to wake up listeners across the UK every weekday morning. “I would do a national radio show over the school run any day,” he laughs.
The 31-year-old became a household name as one of the core members of dance troupe Diversity, alongside his big brother, Dancing On Ice judge Ashley Banjo, and Perri when they won Britain’s Got Talent in 2009. Be it on screen, radio or talking about being a dad, Jordan is as fun and easy-going as ever.
Here, he opens up to new about how Christmas is shaping up at home, why he has been rooting for Oti Mabuse on I’m A Celeb (which he appeared on himself in 2016, and again in 2023) and which reality show he’d like to tackle next.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1733808037/articles/W4aFL_uF91733835118140/1355538310.jpg]
Hi, Jordan! How are you? Are you watching I’m A Celebrity?
I’m good. You know what, I actually haven’t been watching. I’ve been one of those people who’s watching all of it on TikTok. Watching all the clips of GK Barry is killing me. She’s making me laugh so much.
Is there anyone in there who you’re rooting for?
I know Oti Mabuse. I’m going to root for her, no matter what. I haven’t seen what she’s been doing on the show but it is just blind loyalty in supporting Oti. She does Dancing On Ice and we did a show back in the day called The Greatest Dancer. I’ve always got time for Oti. She is one of the funniest people I know. She cracks me up. I think she would smash a trial.
How important is it to get those stars in challenges?
When people do rubbish the first few days, everyone’s forgiving. You’re still digesting the full English you had before you walked in. You’re not hungry yet. Then when you get to about a week and a half in and people say, “Sorry guys, tried my best, but I just couldn’t do it,” it starts to get annoying. Yeah, I hear it, but you know what you’re signing up for. Please win some stars, because if I have to eat one more spoonful of rice and beans, I’m gonna scream!
Would you do it again?
I did it the first time in 2016 and I got kicked out ninth out of 12 and then I did it again in 2023 and came second. So, I was like “OK, I’ve done well, there.” I wouldn’t want to go back a third time and come out 10th. Let’s say never say never, who knows.
Who would be your dream campmate?
I honestly think it would be my mum or my youngest sister. You miss everyone when you’re in there, so it’d be nice to have someone you know – from a selfish perspective. On the other hand, Mum would not survive an hour. If I want to play a prank on her, I’ll send her a picture of a mouse and she’ll scream and throw her phone across the room. She’d not be able to hack I’m A Celeb in the slightest. It would be golden viewing.
Would you do any other reality shows?
The more I hear about Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins... Everyone I speak to who’s been on it says, “It’s not like the other shows, it broke me.” Part of me is like, “I’d love to experience that...
As the Breakfast Show DJ for KISS radio with his best mate Perry Kiely, he gets to wake up listeners across the UK every weekday morning. “I would do a national radio show over the school run any day,” he laughs.
The 31-year-old became a household name as one of the core members of dance troupe Diversity, alongside his big brother, Dancing On Ice judge Ashley Banjo, and Perri when they won Britain’s Got Talent in 2009. Be it on screen, radio or talking about being a dad, Jordan is as fun and easy-going as ever.
Here, he opens up to new about how Christmas is shaping up at home, why he has been rooting for Oti Mabuse on I’m A Celeb (which he appeared on himself in 2016, and again in 2023) and which reality show he’d like to tackle next.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1733808037/articles/W4aFL_uF91733835118140/1355538310.jpg]
Hi, Jordan! How are you? Are you watching I’m A Celebrity?
I’m good. You know what, I actually haven’t been watching. I’ve been one of those people who’s watching all of it on TikTok. Watching all the clips of GK Barry is killing me. She’s making me laugh so much.
Is there anyone in there who you’re rooting for?
I know Oti Mabuse. I’m going to root for her, no matter what. I haven’t seen what she’s been doing on the show but it is just blind loyalty in supporting Oti. She does Dancing On Ice and we did a show back in the day called The Greatest Dancer. I’ve always got time for Oti. She is one of the funniest people I know. She cracks me up. I think she would smash a trial.
How important is it to get those stars in challenges?
When people do rubbish the first few days, everyone’s forgiving. You’re still digesting the full English you had before you walked in. You’re not hungry yet. Then when you get to about a week and a half in and people say, “Sorry guys, tried my best, but I just couldn’t do it,” it starts to get annoying. Yeah, I hear it, but you know what you’re signing up for. Please win some stars, because if I have to eat one more spoonful of rice and beans, I’m gonna scream!
Would you do it again?
I did it the first time in 2016 and I got kicked out ninth out of 12 and then I did it again in 2023 and came second. So, I was like “OK, I’ve done well, there.” I wouldn’t want to go back a third time and come out 10th. Let’s say never say never, who knows.
Who would be your dream campmate?
I honestly think it would be my mum or my youngest sister. You miss everyone when you’re in there, so it’d be nice to have someone you know – from a selfish perspective. On the other hand, Mum would not survive an hour. If I want to play a prank on her, I’ll send her a picture of a mouse and she’ll scream and throw her phone across the room. She’d not be able to hack I’m A Celeb in the slightest. It would be golden viewing.
Would you do any other reality shows?
The more I hear about Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins... Everyone I speak to who’s been on it says, “It’s not like the other shows, it broke me.” Part of me is like, “I’d love to experience that...
You're reading a preview of
New UK (Digital) - 1 Issue, December 16, 2024