Ashley Banjo promised his newborn daughter he would "be home soon" during Sunday’s (24.02.19) episode of ‘Dancing on Ice’.
The 30-year-old dancer is on the judging panel of the ITV ice dancing competition, and took a moment to shout out his daughter Rose Adura Banjo- whom he welcomed with his wife Francesca Abbott on Thursday (21.02.19) – during the live show on Sunday.
Speaking after host Holly Willoughby asked him about life as a new father, Ashley said: "I am in love. I know she is not technically watching yet but, ‘Daddy will be home soon Rosie, I love you’."
The Diversity star also thanked the show’s make-up team as he joked that he looked "horrendous" following several days of late nights since his tot’s birth.
Before the show – which saw the remaining five celebrities competing for a place in the semi-finals next week – kicked off, Ashley posted a picture on social media in which he said his daughter is "everything" to him now.
He wrote alongside the snap of himself: "Backstage about to go live for @dancingonice! Last time I was standing here I didn’t have a daughter… Now she’s everything… #nextchapter #time (sic)"
The dancer revealed the news of his daughter’s birth in a sweet post on Instagram earlier this week.
He wrote: "Our beautiful daughter came into the world at 6:45pm on 21st February 2019 – weighing a healthy 8lbs 13oz.
"Her name is Rose Adura Banjo. I am in the deepest love ever with my little family @francescabanjo I love you and am so proud #nextchapter (sic)"
Ashley had previously revealed he is finding the idea of fatherhood "quite surreal", but is delighted about the prospect after the couple went through a "tough" fertility journey.
He shared last month: "It’s already quite surreal for me thinking there is a little baby Banjo on the way. A little girl. It’s been tough. People assume, I did it myself, they think, ‘If you want a baby, have one.’ It doesn’t happen like that."
Ashley Banjo gives adorable shoutout to newborn daughter on Dancing on Ice
