Who would be in a boyband? The concentrated level of fame, press intrusion and fight for creative freedom against commercial success are all elements which go alongside being some of the most desirable men on the planet. Yet if you perfect this formula then a lifetime of trouble free acclaim awaits you. By the turn of the new millennium, vital lessons had been learned surrounding the protection of bands and the way they were represented to both press and public. In 2003 school friends from London: Tom Fletcher, Danny Jones, Dougie Poynter and Harry Judd achieved a popular boyhood dream when they formed McFly. Devoid of any temptation to explore the advantages of being young and in a band, McFly’s passion for music helped to maintain focus and put them on the road to success.
Inspired by Danny’s favourite film Back To The Future, McFly brought together inspiration from a variety of influences from Blink 182 to Bruce Springsteen and it was this element that made the band unique. In the era of of American punk, there was little in the way of a British response to this phenomenon and the landscape required an alternative to the unadulterated pop scene of the time. Yet this was all about to change in 2000 when a new band was launched. Originally a four piece with James Bourne, Charlie Simpson, Matt Willis and Tom Fletcher, it was decided that the band would be a four piece and therefore Fletcher was dropped. Yet this experience didn’t go to waste and in 2002, together with Danny Junes, created another band.
By doing this, the guys had unknowingly created a brand new genre that made teenage punk pop relevant for the 21st century. McFly and Busted were different to the pop bands of the time and were devoid of the manufactured elements that were common throughout the pop landscape of the time. They wrote all their own songs, had full creative control over their musical output and had cultivated a live act which borrowed from classic rock or the 1970’s. Therefore McFly was definitely not an unadulterated pop machine and took the boyband genre to uncharted territory.
Being in a successful band, it’s natural for all members to fall into specific roles. Throughout history, drummers are always thought of as beings who hide behind the rest of the band who take the limelight. Yet the drummer is the one who ensures a beat throughout a song and in many circumstances is the one constant. A drummer can also be the peacemaker or the voice of reason to the three other showmen. However, what possibly sets Harry Judd apart from his peers is that ability to come out from behind the drum kit and become a personality in his own right. This was never a conscious decision nor a intervention by his management but a natural evolution of Harry’s own skill set and while other musicians of the band cultivated their talents in literature, entertainment and the Arts, he saw broadcasting as an option.
This was further developed in 2011 when Harry was unveiled as part of the lineup for that year’s heavyweight Strictly Come Dancing. Initially declining due to having a blanket ban on reality shows, however a chance offer from Children In Need just a year prior would offer Harry insight into the rollercoaster of Strictly when he competed against Saturdays star Rochelle Humes and became victorious as the Children In Need champion. At this stage, Harry merely assumed that this would be the beginning and end of his Strictly journey and enjoyed the insight he gained from the experience. However, just a year later, he found himself donning the glittery outfit once again when he stepped out as a contestant on the full length version.
His experience on Strictly allowed Harry an insight into the working of television and the process of making a live entertainment show. Witnessing the legendary Bruce Forsyth doing what he did best was something revelatory and despite having limited contact with the showbiz icon, his professionalism remained obvious. A throwback to the golden years of Variety, Forsyth had the ability to entertain an audience with a knowing look or turn of phrase but also could, and regularly enthralled them with song, dance and stand up comedy. For many, Bruce Forsyth was the quintessential all round entertainer but for Harry, this was someone to look up to.
Having a competitive mindset gave Harry an advantage over his celebrity peers and once he learned to approach it like any other physical challenge, he knew that he would be in with a chance. This is where his focused and dedicated mindset came into its own as he was quick to realise that the more hours you put in during the week, the better your performance would be on the Saturday night. Indeed, there was only one routine that Harry quickly nailed but the rest required a methodical, determined approach to perfect and aided by Aliona, this was exactly what Harry did. In December 2011 Harry and Aliona claimed victory in what was a hotly contested final against Waterloo Road star Chelsee Healey and her dance partner Pasha Kovalev. Something that had never been on his radar actually became one of Harry’s greatest achievements and unbeknownst to him, Strictly had offered him insight into the workings of television which he would go on to build upon in the coming years.
Being in a successful band and enjoying prelonged plaudits for over a decade, it became obvious that it would be impossible to maintain consistent output indefinitely while trying to enjoy family life. The McFly machine now only operates for half of the year, leaving all members time to work on solo projects. While Tom became a popular children’s author and Danny made waves in the field of Light Entertainment, Harry nurtured his broadcasting skills and guest presenting roles on The One Show further developed this. Indeed, it was on the set of The One Show that Harry made a friend in co-host Alex Jones who would play a dominant role in the next chapter of his career.
Both avid box set lovers, Harry and Alex would often find themselves discussing their latest series they were watching or swapping recommendations of what to watch. After a while, the pair realised that such conversations were common throughout Britain as people shared their viewing habits with friends and suggested shows that they might like. Such a notion spawned an idea for a podcast in which Harry and Alex along with celebrity guests, share their latest favourite shows. The Viral Tribe Entertainment podcast Binge runs weekly and is available on the traditional podcast outlets. The ability to interview figures from across the spectrum of entertainment remains something which Harry thrives upon in his relatively new role as broadcaster and to be able to sit opposite figures such as Richard Curtis still remains a thrill.
Judd’s broadcasting skills have further developed when he joined Magic Radio in July 2024, first on Saturday afternoons before inheriting the drive time slot earlier this year. As a broadcaster, Harry finds it increasingly natural to talk for a long period of time and feels at home in front of the microphone. On TV and radio, Harry has found his niche of entertainment which will hopefully continue to flourish for many years to come. This is one of the many reasons which makes his story so fascinating as his career has spanned many disciplines and yet he still has the unique ability to remain the boy next door. Personally, I feel that this is key to his continued popularity and longevity in entertainment as what the audience sees in Harry is someone who they like and ultimately trust. From drummer to broadcaster, in an age where versatility is difficult to find, our subject has silently proved that having more than one string to your bow is still possible. It was an absolute privilege to welcome the all conquering Harry Judd to Beyond The Title and its exciting to see what challenges await him next!
Beyond The Title