Superstar boyband The Wanted in talks for a reunion says lead singer Max George
WHILE ONE DIRECTION’s promised reunion seems a mere pipe dream, I can reveal their long-time rivals THE WANTED are in talks to get back together.
The superstar boy band’s lead singer MAX GEORGE makes the revelation in the new episode of my podcast The Dan Wootton Interview, as he finally launches his solo career four-and-a-half years after the group split.
The shaven headed heartthrob has held talks with Strictly champion JAY McGUINESS and The Jump contestant TOM PARKER, the party animals of the band who met up recently at Tom’s stag do.
Max reveals: “Tom hasn't changed — just absolute carnage. Jay is actually not as bad as he used to be, he's quite calm now.”
“It's one of those things that me and Tom and Jay have definitely spoken about before.
“It's been more sat around having a pint, saying, 'Aw it would be great to do it again, wouldn't it?' I think in the back of our minds we'd all like to do at some point.”
The status of the band’s other two members — NATHAN SYKES and SIVA KANESWARAN — remains unclear.
Max says: “With Nathan I haven't spoke to him for a little while. I’d say about 12 months. But I know obviously he was doing his own thing and he was really busy.
“I haven't seen Siva for a long time. Siva was always sort of difficult to sort of get hold of anyway. It's just the way Siva is. There’s been no fall out.”
But would The Wanted reunion be able to go ahead without the other members?
“I think if everyone wanted to do it and the other one just didn't wanna do it I think you'd have to just respect that and say, OK mate,” he replied.
“But I’m not sure (we could do it with three) — that would be like being the SUGABABES! I think we might have to have four.”
The Wanted ended, like so many boy bands, as a result of inter-personal pressure between members after years of living in each other’s pockets.
Max – who had a starring role in Glee following the split – admits: “Cracks do begin to appear. We did a TV show which I think highlighted those cracks. If things were bad it made them even worse.”
Serious relationships, including Max’s engagement with Coronation Street star MICHELLE KEEGAN, added to the tension.
He explains: “You know, you grow up and you get girlfriends and you want to be other places. You don't just want to be a part of this group.”
At the height of their fame The Wanted engaged in a bitter slinging match with their rivals ONE DIRECTION, which has now been resolved.
Max confirms: “I saw NIALL (HORAN) and LOUIS (TOMLINSON) in Vegas. Everything's fine. Honestly it really wasn't that serious.”
Somewhat remarkably, he also insists he gets on with Michelle and her now husband MARK WRIGHT.
He says: “I actually saw them at Soccer Aid. It was fine. It was like seven years ago. They're married. It was a long time ago.
“Obviously she's done so well since and I think what's nice is that she still seems like the same girl, which is nice.
“And he's really sound. So I'm genuinely happy for both of them.”
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Max had a reputation as a womaniser, which he thinks is somewhat unfair.
After a two-year relationship with A-list model NINA AGDAL, he settled down with former Miss Oklahoma CARRIE BAKER, who he lives with in Las Vegas.
He says: “I have always kind of been in relationships really all the way through.
“There was only little gaps where I wasn't because I was with Michelle and then I wasn't.
“And then there wasn't a long time and then I was with Nina for nearly two years and then I've been with Carrie just after that, so I've been in relationships really.”
But he adds: “It wasn't, ‘I've got to go and get with as many girls as I can. But I certainly enjoyed myself, I'm not going to lie.”
While he’s blissfully happy with Carrie, Max, who turns 30 in September, doesn’t intent to rush another proposal.
Referencing his failed engagement with Michelle, he admits: “You learn things don't you? Not to rush in too much. That all happened pretty quick.
“We've been together nearly four years now so yeah she's awesome and she's really supportive of everything I do, she takes care of my two dogs.”
Max had the world at his feet when The Wanted split, especially with the backing of JUSTIN BIEBER’s manager SCOOTER BRAUN and JASON DERULO’s record company.
But in the end, he decided to launch his own label to release his solo material.
And his first release Barcelona should be a summer smash — it’s co-written by Steve Mac, who was behind The Wanted’s biggest hits All Time Low and Glad You Came.
Explaining the long time it’s taken, he admits: “It was frustrating. I decided in the end that the best way to do it was to do it myself which is what I have done.
“You know, I'm 29 and I've been waiting four years really to get this going.
“What I've definitely learnt in the last ten years is that you can't just rely on other people, I think you have to take it by the scruff of the neck and get on with it sometimes.”