Diversity: Our dream is now real

Diversity haven't slept since they were announced as the winners for Britain's Got Talent 2009. Yet they troop into an office in central London, the morning after, with grins on their faces and eyes sparkling.

"We've just been floating. It's overwhelming. We can't sleep! The moment we won, time just seemed to fly by. Even now, it's going in a flash," admits the troupe's choreographer, Ashley Banjo.

The 11-strong dance group from Essex - consisting of three bands of brothers and friends, including 13-year-olds Perri Kiely (with the big hair) and Mitchell Craske - wowed the British public with their innovative dance act, and it looked like the tables had turned when they won the talent competition.

"I didn't really expect to win at all. I thought there was no chance whatsoever. We were up against Susan Boyle, who has become a superstar throughout this competition right across the world," he says.

"To beat Susan is still a massive shock. Her talent has been overshadowed by all the media attention and newspaper stories, but you cannot take away from her that she has a massive talent despite all that. We just came to do our best, and worked really hard to give the best performance we could. So to come away as winners, we haven't got our heads around it."

When the important announcement was made, Ashley was more than shocked.

"I think I fell over! I was congratulating the guys, and when they said us, my knees gave way out of genuine shock. Words can't explain how I felt, and I think that's for everyone," the 20-year-old university science student said.

Ashley started Diversity two years ago at his mum's street dance studio in Dagenham. They won the UK Street Dance championships, but their biggest public performance before they entered the show was a fashion show in a local shopping centre.

"Everyone has their problems growing up, and dancing helped us through them. Focusing on the routine, going to the studio and rehearsing, you just forget about your issues," he says.

City worker Ian McNaughton, 25, explains: "We love dancing, we love entertaining crowds, and Britain's Got Talent seemed like the next step. We work so hard and we really are dedicated to what we do. Every day, we're in the studio, sweating and rehearsing. If people can look up to us, and we've inspired people, that's all great."

While they've hardly had any time to decide what performance they're going to present to the Queen at the Royal Variety show and about what they'll do with the £100,000 prize money, they are excited about their future.

"It's still early days. There's so much to do. Obviously there's the Royal Variety show to think about, but we're open to anything," says Ian.

Ashley adds: "The thing is, I don't think a street dance group, especially from the UK, has come as far as we have so I think it's really exciting that we can try and create our own path. It's never been done before, so either way, we'd like to do anything and everything that we can - maybe our own show. It's all good."

Whatever the future holds for them, it looks like they won't be getting carried away with their newfound fame and fortune.

"We're more humble now because we've got more hard work to do. We have to get back into rehearsals soon. We have set a bar for ourselves," says Ashley.

"It was the best night of our lives. I wouldn't have even dreamed that this could happen up until the moment it was announced, and I'm still having trouble believing it now. It is incredible. Our dream is now real."