Jay McGuiness has given a health update on his The Wanted bandmate Max George as he prepares to undergo a lung biopsy weeks after having a pacemaker fitted following heart issues.
McGuiness – who is currently gearing up to play Shakespeare in a UK and Ireland tour of musical & Juliet – says he has been in touch with George and says he’s “keeping super positive” despite his health woes.
“Aside from his medical stuff he seems like he’s alright, as well as he could be,” McGuiness, 34, told The Standard. “I spoke to him when I heard about his pacemaker being inserted. As much as he’s got a lot going on, he’s keeping super positive about it, he seems chipper to me.
“These things can be scary but thankfully he’s in really good hands.”
The boyband – which also comprised of members Tom Parker, Nathan Sykes and Siva Kaneswaran – first shot to fame in 2010 with a string of hits including All Time Low, Glad You Came and Heart Vacancy.
Jay McGuiness pictured with his The Wanted bandmates in 2012 (Getty Images)
They announced a break in 2014, reforming in 2021 to release a greatest hits album, which was supported by a tour.
Parker passed away from a brain tumour in 2022 and last year, George and Kaneswaran relaunched as a duo, calling themselves The Wanted 2.0.
While McGuiness has gone on to carve out a successful career on the stage and released his debut fantasy novel Blood Flowers last year (with a sequel due for release later this year), he isn’t entirely ruling out rejoining his “brothers” in the future.
The 2015 Strictly Come Dancing winner explained: “The first time around with the band we were rolling through life, we had so much fun and I think we really tried to make the most of it and now I feel like I’ve found a slower groove.
“Being in a show I get a really steady schedule [and] it does sort of regulate me – eight times a week I have to go and perform in front of people, say hello to people at the stage door and then I’ve got time off in my day to work on adult things so I feel like it has changed my speed a little bit. A lot of people are like ‘oh, would you go back and do more with the boys?’ I’m like, never say never, but I genuinely wasn’t just going into a show to just do the next thing. I went into shows and plays and musicals because I just love it and if I can then I’ll do it until I’m like, 70.”
The musical & Juliet, created by David West Read, is based on what would happen if Juliet decided not to kill herself at the end of the play, Romeo And Juliet.
It features an array of pop songs including Britney Spears’ …Baby One More Time, Katy Perry’s Roar and Kelly Clarkson’s Since U Been Gone.
Describing his character Shakespeare as “very egotistical”, McGuiness can’t wait to take to the stage.
“I really like the songs and the dancing he does, but the scenes, oh my god, he’s so arrogant and that is causing me anxiety,” he laughed.
He will kick off his run in & Juliet in Bristol on January 15. It will then stop at London’s New Wimbledon Theatre from January 27 untill February 1, followed by dates in Aberdeen, Leicester, Dublin, Woking, Bradford, Milton Keynes and McGuiness’ hometown Nottingham.
For more information about & Juliet and to buy tickets, visit andjulietthemusical.co.uk