Dancing on Ice's Ashley Banjo opens up on "overwhelming negativity" after becoming a dad
Photo credit: Danny Martindale - Getty Images
By digital spy
Ashley Banjo, judge for Dancing on Ice, found out about the difficulties of becoming a father for the second time during the ban, revealing that he had negative emotions for the world after the birth of his son.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Ashley, who became famous as part of the Diversity dance group after winning British Got Talent in 2009, said the first few weeks after the birth of three-month-old Micah were "tough" because he was having trouble keeping his balance He takes care of his two young children and is struggling with the changes in his work caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"My wife Francesca had a Micah by Caesarean section, so we were strictly isolated and she was recovering," he said. "We had our daughter Rose (who is 16 months old) and a newborn. Francesca could not move. I changed babies, cooked dinner and entertained the children. At the same time we saw how our livelihood disappeared.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Related: Ashley Banjo of Dancing on Ice reveals the complete hair transformation in Lockdown
"The world was changing, but I couldn't react to what was happening because I was taking care of my family. There were a good five or six weeks when I said, 'Wow, that's tough'. I felt this overwhelming Feeling of negativity that I have never felt before. I am a positive person, I always try to have a positive attitude. I sat and went when someone said to me now: "Ash, where are the positive ones Aspects in all of this? "I would try to find some."
He added that it was his family who "helped him" by spending a lot of time together on FaceTime.
"I realized that the world is different, but we just have to adapt. As long as we all work together, we are all good," he said.
Ashley, who has also appeared in reality shows like Got to Dance and Flirty Dancing, said that it made him "braver" to be a father and that he feels like a "superhero" because you would do anything you need them ".
He added that his children had "turned his life upside down" and said that if he could finally go on tour again with diversity, he would have trouble leaving his family behind.
"The first day I had Rose, I said, 'Oh my god, I can't imagine not being touchable.' It was important to me from the first minute, "he said. "Now I'm afraid to leave Lockdown because I've been with them so often. It will break my heart.
"Hopefully Diversity will be touring next year and we may have to isolate ourselves in a bubble with the people we appear with. So in the new normal for us there will be periods when I don't see the children - it will kill me."
We encourage everyone who identifies with the issues addressed in this article to get in touch. Organizations that can offer support include Samaritans at 116 123 (www.samaritans.org) or Mind at 0300 123 3393 (www.mind.org.uk). US readers are encouraged to visit mentalhealth.gov.
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