How McFly member almost ended up in Busted but was 'kicked out' after 24 hours

Dougie Poynter, Danny Jones, Harry Judd and Tom Fletcher have been part of McFly for 21 years but back in the early days, one member nearly ended up in a rival group

By: irishmirror.ie

Oct 10 2024
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How McFly member almost ended

Noughties boyband juggernauts McFly and Busted are teaming up for a series of gigs next year much to the delight of their fans.

The 2025 Busted Vs Mcfly the tour is billed as the "ultimate face off" between the groups to find out who will reign supreme. "Fans can decide," said Busted's James Bourne, Charlie Simpson and Matt Willis. "They can come and support their band and they might change their mind. It's going to be a fight to the death."

The two groups dominated the noughties pop scene with 11 No 1 singles between them but McFly's line-up of Dougie Poynter, Danny Jones, Harry Judd and Tom Fletcher could have been very different.

The band members of McFly looking into the camera sitting down — McFly enjoyed 7 No 1 singles in their Noughties heyday (Image: Getty Images for Pizza Express)

Few people know that Tom Fletcher was actually a member of the original Busted line-up. The star auditioned for the group alongside Charlie Simpson and for "approximately 24 hours" he thought he was in the band.

"I got told I was in then a couple of days later on Halloween I got a call from a manager saying they're going to stick with the three of them," Tom told The Jonathan Ross Show in 2014. The record label had changed their minds and decided they wanted a trio.

But while Tom, 39 was booted out of the band, he went on to write songs for Busted, forming a close writing relationship with James Bourne. The singer later teamed up with Danny Jones to write songs and they decided to form their own band, named after Marty McFly from the Back to the Future series. McFly began in 2003 and became popular thanks to catchy hits such as It's All About You and Five Colours in Her Hair

They became the youngest band ever to have an album debut at number one - taking the title from the Beatles with Room on the 3rd Floor. McFly enjoyed seven UK number one singles and started their own record label, Super Records.

McBusted members striking funny poses into camera — Super group McBusted only lasted a couple of years due to "unspoken jealousy" (Image: Getty Images)

Tom's impressive writing catalogue includes 10 UK number one singles including Crashed the Wedding, Who's David and Thunderbirds for Busted and Five Colours In Her Hair, Star Girl and Obviously for McFly. The versatile star has also written a series of children's books.

In 2013 McFly and Busted teamed up to form supergroup McBusted with Matt Willis and James Bourne. But while the band was a commercial success Harry Judd said their personal relationships were "in the worst place they had been in the entire 13 years we'd known each other".

By 2015 the band had disbanded, with Harry citing an "unspoken jealousy" and Dougie saying cracks had appeared which "caused resentment". Charlie Simpson, who had left Busted back in 2005 to pursue a different direction in music, re-joined Busted the following year.

Now both bands are heading off on tour and McFly are sure they'll reign supreme, thanks to being a couple of years younger overall. "They're old men now and we are gonna blow them and their carers off the stage," they said. "We've had a great time celebrating our 21st birthday this week and next year is going to be even better."

Tickets for the tour go on sale via artist pre-sale from 9am on October 16 here and general tickets are on sale on October 18 at 9am here.