Ashley Roberts Biography
Roberts was a contestant in the British reality television show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! on it's twelfth series in 2012, finishing as runner-up to Charlie Brooks, in one of the closest ever reality show finales where she received 49.44% against 50.56% of the final vote. Despite her becoming a finalist, she was proven a popular public figure during her time on the show and would later set up her reality television career, especially in the United Kingdom.
After her successful appearance on I'm a Celebrity..., Ashley was an ice panel judge on the reality ice dancing competition, Dancing on Ice from the eighth series in January 2013 until the 'All-Star' ninth series in January 2014, alongside head judge, Robin Cousins and returning ice panelists, Karen Barber and Jason Gardiner. Roberts tweeted to followers about the starting process of recording her debut solo album on 16 June 2012, however it is not yet known what date/year she will officially release the record. She released her first official solo single, "Yesterday" in November 2012.
As of February 2013, Roberts is currently a Ant vs Dec segment presenter on the revived ITV entertainment programme, Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, along with the voice-over sports commentator Clive Tyldesley.
Early life and career beginnings
Roberts was born in Phoenix, Arizona and attended Shadow Mountain High School. She is of Welsh descent. began dancing at the age of three and singing at eight. Her father was a drummer who played for The Mamas & the Papas, later becoming an auto dealer. Her mother was a Pilates instructor and they both inspired her to be a part of the entertainment industry. Her hair was brunette during her teenage years, as shown in Aaron Carter's "Oh Aaron" and "Not Too Young, Not Too Old" music video.
During high school summer breaks she had traveled to California to study modern dance. After high school, she moved permanently to Los Angeles. She has appeared in television commercials and music videos such as Counting Crows "Accidentally in Love", Josh Groban's "You Raise Me Up", Jane's Addiction's "True Nature", Aaron Carter's "Oh Aaron" and "Not Too Young, Not Too Old" and Pink's "Trouble". She has also appeared in the game show Rock and a Hard Place, hosted by Meatloaf, with fellow PCD members, Melody Thornton and Carmit Bachar. She cites Goldie Hawn, Kate Moss, Sienna Miller and Gwen Stefani as her main role models and inspirations.
2003–10: The Pussycat Dolls and acting career
Within six months of her move she had joined the Pussycat Dolls along with members Nicole Scherzinger, Melody Thornton, Carmit Bachar, Jessica Sutta and Kimberly Wyatt. She sang co-lead along with Carmit Bachar and Jessica Sutta in the "Stickwitu" single B-side, "Santa Baby". She also recorded a song called "Played" for the Doll Domination Deluxe Edition. As with the other group members she is a salaried employee of Interscope Records. Shortly after Kimberly Wyatt announced her departure from the group, Roberts followed suit. On February 27, 2010, in a letter to her fans, she made the following announcement on her website:
“ Yes, I have left the Pussycat Dolls. I love you all sooo much!!! I am so grateful to have the love and support of all of you. It was an amazing ride and I learned so much! You all mean the world to me and I'm excited to take you all on a new adventure. An adventure full of creativity, inspiration, learning, growing and lots of fun." ”
Roberts appeared in other media for the first time in the music video of Counting Crows' song Accidentally in Love as the girl who escapes from her home and her boyfriend with a stuffed rabbit. Roberts made her film début as Brooke in the dance/drama/romance film Make It Happen alongside actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Riley Smith. Production lasted from August 8 to September 17, 2007, and the film was directed by Darren Grant and distributed by The Weinstein Company. The film premièred on August 8, 2008 in the UK to mixed but mainly positive reviews.
On her official blog, she stated that she would work on a number of different projects. She is working on her acting, and she will be a host on Maxim Does Spring Break on E!. She has also shot a pilot for MTV with Aubrey O'Day of Danity Kane, Marques Houston, and singer/songwriter Amanda Ghost. She appeared on 90210 in the episode of "Into the Wild" which aired on Monday 5 November she played a stripper teacher. Apart from her acting projects she has launched her first line of lingerie designed for the beach in Sydney, Australia.
2010–present: Debut solo album, I'm a Celebrity..., Dancing on Ice and Saturday Night Takeaway
Roberts announced that she is in the studio and recording songs for her own music. In 2010, Roberts released her first solo song, a cover of "A Summer Place". The song was released on iTunes on September 28. Roberts also made an appearance in ex-bandmate Kimberly Wyatt's music video for the single, "Stars in Your Eyes". On June 14, 2012, she made a cameo appearance in a Bobby Newberry's music video for his debut single "Dirrty Up", alongside ex-bandmate Melody Thornton. On October 10, 2012, Roberts released a preview of a cover version of Bobby Newberry's "All In A Day", which was produced By The Invaders. The full version was released at the end of October. On November 5, 2012, Roberts announced that her first official solo single would be called "Yesterday" and would be released that week.
On 7 November 2012, it was announced that Roberts would compete in the twelfth series of the British reality television show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, airing on ITV. She came runner-up in the series, after being beaten for the title of "Queen of the Jungle" by fellow campmate Charlie Brooks.
In January 2013, Roberts became a member of the ice panel for the British celebrity skating show, Dancing on Ice on ITV, alongside Robin Cousins, Karen Barber and Jason Gardiner.
In 2013, Ashley presented the Ant vs Dec segment on the revived version of Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, replacing former host Kirsty Gallacher. Roberts reportedly dated Dec briefly in March 2013, but she denied this in April. She returned to this role for the 2014 series.
Later in 2013, Roberts began a relationship with Welsh TV presenter Matt Johnson.
On 31 March 2014, Roberts announced and confirmed 'Clockwork' as her new single which will be released on May 25, 2014. A second single and debut solo album are to follow in late summer.
Source: wikipedia.org