Diversity’s Jordan Banjo believes in lying to his children

As Diversity’s SOUL tour sets off across the UK, Jordan Banjo chats parenting tips, conspiracy theories and Speedos

Jordan Banjo might be in the middle of bringing Diversity’s latest concept tour to stages around the UK, but he still has to do the school run.

“I swear, if I hear the numbers ‘six seven’ together one more time. I won’t have to do a school run anymore, because I’m gonna ship them off somewhere,” he says. “That’s a genuine promise. These kids, man.”

A lot has changed since Diversity won Britain’s Got Talent in 2009, but brothers Ashley and Jordan are still committed to bringing something new to their audience every time they step out on stage. Their latest tour, SOUL, draws inspiration from the fast-changing technological landscape of 2026, specifically the advent of AI.

“You take inspiration just from everyday life,” says Banjo. “What you’re personally going through, what you what you see happening in the world. Nearly 20 years ago, when we won Britain’s Got Talent, things were just very, very different. What does it mean to be human? That’s kind of the underlying question of the show. Now we’ve got robots on stage, we’ve got all this new laser tech, the staging, the lighting… it’s just incredible, and it really built up into a cool show. Even though there’s this thought-provoking message underneath it, it’s feel good and it’s funny.”

As Diversity’s SOUL sets off across the UK, we’re checking in with Banjo to discuss parenting, Paloma Faith and the Speedos photo that still haunts him. What else are you going to do when you’re stuck in a lift?

Diversity take on A.I in their FUTURISTIC performance! | Semi-Finals | BGT 2025

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Who would you most want to be stuck in a lift with?

You know, I would have to pick my wife. First reason, she’s the love of my life. Okay, now she’s heard that she’s probably tuned out… The real reason is, if I disappear into a lift, I’m assuming I’ve got no signal. If it’s dodgy enough to get stuck, I’m assuming that there’s no signal in this lift. If I don’t check in, and she thinks I’ve just ran off, I’m in trouble. So I’m gonna have to pick my wife.

Not the kids, then?

Definitely not my kids, because they’ll say, “What floor are we stuck on?” and I’ll say “I think six or seven” and then I’ll leave them in the lift.

Who would you least want to be stuck in a lift with?

One of one of the members of Diversity, his name’s Mitch. He loves conspiracy theories. And if we’ve got nothing to talk about, he’ll fill that entire time with conspiracy theories. Now, I love a good conspiracy theory. But he’s the sort of guy who goes, “You know they used to put different chemicals in the glue that you used to use at school to brainwash you, so we all just got into that mindset.” I’m like, enough.

What’s the weirdest interaction you ever had with a famous person?

I interviewed Paloma Faith once. It was on a TV show, and it was called The Greatest Answer. She came on, and she’d done this big performance, and it was really cool, she’d done really well. Then at the end… You know when you’re talking to someone, and you can tell they’re not listening? She glazed over. She was just staring at me, and I was chatting. And she said to me, “How tall are you?” We’re on live TV, by the way. I went, “I’m six foot five.” She went, “I’d love to be that tall. Can I get on your back, please?” I said, Sorry?” This wasn’t planned, I promise you. She climbed on my back, and I had to interview Paloma Faith with her on my back. She kicked her shoes off and everything.

What’s your guiltiest pleasure?

Whenever I’m eating something, and my kids want some, and they go, “Oh, can I have one?”… I’m really painted myself to be a bad dad here… It could be one of those little pots of Nutella with the breadsticks. Whatever it is, I’ll go, “No it’s way too spicy.” It’s the fact they believe me. I go, “I know, I’m as gutted as you are, because I really wanted to give you some, but it’s way too spicy.” That look on their faces, knowing that I’ve succeeded in lying to my own child is just brilliant. Everything’s spicy. Flavoured water is spicy, Pepsi’s spicy. There’s levels to parenting. Sometimes you’ve got to lie. It’s got to be done.

What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?

I worked in a shopping centre, but on the management level. Actually, it was work experience. My mom knew someone and had twisted their arm to get me in. I say it’s the worst job, because it’s my only other job I’ve had apart from Diversity. I walked in in my suit, and they said, “Don’t worry about all that, just pop a T-shirt on”. I had to ring around all the shops, and I had to go, “Sorry, can I get your figures for the week, please?” and they’d give me their figures. That’d take me about, you know, 10 minutes. Then they’d be like “Do you want to design, like, a leaflet or something?” And I’d be like, “All right.” They’d get me free milkshakes, and I’d just drink free milkshakes all day making leaflets. Do you know what, scrap that – it’s the best job I’ve ever had. Forget this tour, mate. I’m going back there.

Do you have a skill that no one knows you’re good at?

It’s not a skill, but I can hit myself in the forehead and not feel it. I can feel people touching, but it just feels like pressure. It’s really odd.

In a really niche situation that could serve you really well.

If we were ever stuck in a room and we had to head butt our way out, I’m your man. We’re not even stuck in the lift. I’ve head butted my way out.

What’s the worst advice you’ve ever been given?

I was quite a fat kid, right. I used to feel really awkward going swimming. My nan said to me, “Jord, you’ve got to go in there, you gotta be confident and be yourself.” To the point that I felt so confident after what she said that there’s a picture of a very fat nine year old me in my blue Speedos, goggles and a swim cap standing out front. I’d come out into reception to tell my nan I felt confident, and she had her little disposal camera. So there’s a picture of me just posing in my little Speedos. Bless her, she did her job. But I’m also haunted by that picture. She meant well, but she’s also created a moment in my life that I will forever be ashamed of.

If you had to have a song playing every time you walked into a room, what would it be?

At the moment, I’m quite into ‘Takedown’ from the KPop Demon Hunters, once again, thanks to my kids. It’s not a bad song. It’s got some purpose behind it, some strength, you know. It’s empowering. Imagine if ‘Takedown’ was playing when I walked out in my Speedos. That would have been game over.

Do you have any superstitions?

I had a weird superstition in my old house. On the wall in the living room there was a mirror, so as you walked past to go up the stairs, you saw yourself in the reflection. Every night, before I went up to bed, I’d have to walk up the stairs then jump back down quickly and watch my reflection to make sure it moved with me. I had a weird sneaky suspicion that my reflection would just stop, and I used to freak myself out. You can imagine the first night that my wife ever stayed over. She was a bit freaked out. She was like, “Why is this guy jumping downstairs?”

What’s your most controversial food opinion?

Oh, it’s obvious that people say pineapple should go on pizza. I’m an avid believer in that. I think anybody who likes cold custard on hot desserts should go to prison.