Ashley Banjo has opened up about struggling with ‘dad guilt’ over the Christmas period as his busy work schedule keeps him away from home.
The Dancing On Ice judge, 36, announced he and childhood sweetheart Francesca had taken the ‘difficult decision’ to separate with a joint statement in December 2022.
The former couple, who maintain a co-parenting relationship, shares daughter Rose, five, and son Micah, four.
As the festive period is in full swing, Ashley shared how he makes the most of his short break, ensuring he spends quality time with his loved ones before returning to 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.’
Ashley also opened up about the guilt many fathers experience when work commitments take priority over family time.
Ashley Banjo has opened up about struggling with ‘dad guilt’ over the Christmas period as his busy work schedule keeps him away from home (pictured on Loose Women 2024)
He shares daughter Rose, five, and son Micah, four with his ex partner Francesca
He continued: ‘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.’
Ashley and his dance group, Diversity, are currently performing in the pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk at Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre.
The show runs from December 24, 2024, to January 5, 2025.
In an exclusive interview with MailOnline in 2023, just months after his split, Ashley revealed that co-parenting his two children alongside Francesca and ensuring their happiness is his number one goal in life.
He said: ‘At the end of the day, for me when it comes to life my children are my priority and looking after my family and my babies and making sure they’re happy and their lives are good is number one.
‘Now they’re old enough, my children enjoy watching BGT performances on YouTube, they always get up Diversity performances and they want to watch their daddy, which is super cute, and I love watching the old performances with them.’
In their split statement, Ashley and Francesca said: ‘After much thought and consideration we both feel now is the time to share some personal news.
The Diversity announced he and childhood sweetheart Francesca had taken the ‘difficult decision’ to separate with a joint statement in December 2022
Ashley revealed that co-parenting his two children alongside Francesca and ensuring their happiness is his number one goal in life
‘Nearly 18 months ago we took the difficult decision to separate. After being together for over 16 years, since we were teenagers, this is not a decision that has been taken lightly.
‘It has not been easy and the processing of the situation has not been fast by any means. But we feel that as we approach the new year it is time to share this news with others.
‘Our main focus will always be our beautiful children. Every decision that has been made is to make sure we can continue as a loving family and give the very best of ourselves as parents.
Raising Rose and Micah in a healthy and happy environment is the most important thing to both of us.
‘Sometimes after so many years people just move in different directions, but we do so lovingly and we continue to try and be both the best parents possible and the best of friends to each other.
‘We have always been private with our personal lives, so we kindly ask that everyone please continue to respect that privacy. We won’t be making any further comment on the situation.
They concluded: ‘Thank you… Lots of Love Ash and Chess x’
