Alesha Dixon is one of our favourite TV stars and we're so glad she's back to keep us entertained on Saturday nights alongside the rest of the Britain's Got Talent panel. While she prefers to keep her private life out of the spotlight, she has on occasion given fans a glimpse into her home life and shared some photos of her young daughters, and her husband Azuka Ononye.
But what else do we know about her family set-up? And who is the man who helps to put a huge smile on her face each day? Keep reading to find out all you need to know...
Meet Alesha Dixon's husband Azuka Ononye
Azuka Ononye, 43, is a British-born Nigerian who has been in the entertainment industry for more than 15 years. He has worked as a dancer – for the likes of Tinie Tempah and Alexandra Burke – choreographer, actor, writer, creative director and a voice-over artist.
On his website he is described as "a multi-faceted artist focused on pushing his and all boundaries, Azuka blends his knowledge, style and experience across the board with his contagiously smooth and positive energy bringing any project he is involved with to life".
The couple are believed to have starting dating after meeting in 2006 when Alesha was on tour for her music and Azuka was a dancer. Opening up about the early days of their romance on The Jonathan Ross Show, Alesha previously said that she was "kind of playing hard to get for about a year".
She added: "Then I had the foot operation and I couldn’t walk and he was literally sleeping on the floor looking after me every day. I was just looking at him thinking, 'That is for better or for worse isn’t it?' I looked a state, he was sleeping on the floor because I was on the couch, I couldn’t even get up the stairs. If he can carry me to the toilet then he’s a keeper."
Alesha, 45, and Azuka are rumoured to have secretly married in 2017. While neither party have confirmed that a wedding took place, several outlets refer to Azuka as her husband, and during an appearance on Michael McIntyre’s Big Show Christmas Special in December 2017, Alesha introduced her other-half as "my lovely husband AZ, you can call him Azuka!"
However, she was not wearing a wedding ring and there have been no wedding photos released to the public.
Sharing an insight into their relationship during an appearance on Piers Morgan's Life Stories in 2014, Alesha said: "I am authentically myself when I’m with him. I don't have to be anything other than who I am and it's a great feeling when you can just be yourself with someone. And it's like being with my best friend every day." How sweet!
Alesha's family life
Alesha and Azuka have two daughters: Azura Sienna, ten, and Anaya Safiya, four. The singer previously admitted that she didn't see herself having children until she met her partner. "We met 10 years ago, and he was the first person that I’d met, that I knew that we could have children together because of our values, our morals, our thinking aligned," she previously said in a podcast interview with Giovanna Fletcher.
While guest-editing HELLO!’s Back to School Digital Issue in 2022, Alesha spoke about the importance of setting a good example for her two girls. "If you choose to have children, you are their first introduction to the world," said the star. "I make a very conscious effort that my daughters have a very loving, supportive home with two parents who are great role models. I feel a sense of responsibility."
She also opened up about how she juggles her showbiz career with being a mum. "Sometimes you have periods where you don’t see your children as much, but I always make sure they have quality time with me," she said. "When you are self-employed and you are in the creative industry, there is no set 9-5. You have to go with the flow. To some people, it might seem busy, but you have busy moments, quiet moments, and that’s normal for the entertainment industry.
"My kids see that, they understand that. You bring them along when you can and when you can’t they have to accept Mummy's out there doing her thing. Hopefully, that’s also a strong lesson for them: if you want something in life you’ve got to go out there and work for it. It's not going to fall in your lap."