Max George's career from promising footballer to The Wanted singer
He's had some huge hits!
The Wanted's Max George started out as a footballer for Preston North End, before auditioning on The X Factor, and having success with The Wanted. As part of The Wanted, he had hits like 'All Time Low', 'Heart Vacancy', and 'Glad You Came', before continuing his fruitful career away from the band.
Max joined us on Hits Radio from July 2021, where he presented a show every Friday up until December 2022. Although he no longer hosts Friday Night Hits, Max is still part of the Hits Radio family and will be joining us for shows in the future.
As Max shifts his focus to the world of musicals, and prepares to take to the stage in 2025, let's take a look at some of Max's career highlights as well as some facts about the singer and DJ.
Max George's career:
Max George started out as a footballer
Max George played football for Preston North End, he was on the verge of signing a two-year deal when he decided to concentrate on music after suffering an injury.
The X Factor (2005)
Max first entered The X Factor as a solo singer in 2005, when he was just 16-years-old. He turned up in front of the panel of Sharon Osbourne, Louis Walsh and Simon Cowell with his right arm in a sling saying he'd tripped over a baby gate!
Singing Bill Withers' 'Lean On Me', Simon described him as a "Young Robbie Williams", and Sharon said: "I like you".
Getting three yeses he was sent through to the next round.
Avenue (2005)
Max George joined boy band Avenue in 2005. The four-piece band took part in the 2006 season of The X Factor, and made it through to the final 12 being mentored by Louis Walsh, before being disqualified. Louis found that the band had been put together for the competition and had already been signed to manager previously associated with the TV show.
As part of Avenue, Max released 'Last Goodbye' and 'Can You Feel It?', which was a free single.
Avenue split up in 2009.
The Wanted (2009)
After Avenue split up, Max then joined The Wanted along with Siva Kaneswaran, Jay McGuiness, Tom Parker and Nathan Sykes. The band had huge success with 'All Time Low' - their debut single that reached Number 1, and 'Glad You Came' and 'I Found You'.
In January 2014 the band announced they would be taking a hiatus.
Max George’s solo career (2018)
After The Wanted announced their hiatus, Max enjoyed success as a solo artist, releasing his debut solo hit 'Barcelona' in 2018, this was followed by 'Better On Me' in 2019.
Strictly Come Dancing (2020)
Max appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2020. He was partnered with Dianne Buswell, and despite being tipped to win the show, he was the third celeb to leave after a dance off against Maisie Smith.
Before taking part in the show, when asked about his dance ability he told the BBC: "I don't know, I'm going to go in the middle and say five out of 10, but I might be completely overshooting it with that! It might be like a two."
The Wanted reunite (2021)
In 2021, The Wanted revealed they would be reuniting for a greatest hits album and a charity performance to raise money in support of band member Tom Parker who was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2020.
The band also released new music, with 'Rule the World' as the lead single from their album 'Most Wanted: The Greatest Hits'. They also covered East 17's Christmas single 'Stay Another Day'.
The Wanted perform at Hits Live Birmingham (2021)
Also in 2021, The Wanted reunited on stage at Hits Live Birmingham where they got the crowd going with an incredible set.
Strictly Come Dancing tour (2022)
Max George and Katya Jones teamed up for the Strictly Come Dancing tour in January and February 2022.
Ahead of the tour, Max said: 'I'm buzzing to be invited to join the Strictly tour. I know how exciting it is to perform in front the huge arena audiences – it's incredible. And this time I get to dance with Katya (who's a fave of mine) – roll on January, it's gonna be sick!!!'
Max George joins Hits Radio (2021-2022)
In 2021, Max George joined us on Hits Radio, where he presented Friday Night Hits with Max George until the end of 2022. In the show, he played huge tunes from the likes of David Guetta, Calvin Harris, Becky Hill, and Joel Corry plus many more bangers.
Max was also joined by some huge names from the world of music, who dropped in to deliver their future hits for him to play on-air.
The Games (2022)
In May 2022, Max took part in ITV's revival of The Games, where he competed in Olympic style games alongside a range of celebrities including Olivia Attwood, Wes Nelson, Kevin Clifton and Lucrezia Millarini.
Max finished in 5th place on The Games, with a score of 23.
Jeff Wayne’s The War of The Worlds Arena tour (2024)
In April 2024, the exciting news was announced that Max and his fiancée, Maisie Smith, were set to star in Jeff Wayne's The War of The Worlds Arena tour - The Spirit of Man - in 2025. The pair play married couple Parson Nathaniel and his wife Beth - with names such as Russel Watson, Jason Donovan and Blue's Duncan James having preciously played Max's upcoming role.
Jeff Wayne's musical version of The War of The Worlds will be heading on a 17-date UK and Ireland arena tour in 2025, with the year marking 130 years since the publication of HG Wells' dark science fiction novel. On the honorary role, Max said: "I'm absolutely buzzing to be a part of Jeff Wayne's The War of The Worlds. It's a show I've always been a fan of and was introduced to the music when I was five. My mum absolutely loves it. Playing the part of Parson Nathaniel is gonna be really special. I've got big shoes to fill with the likes of Phil Lynott and Jason Donovan playing the roles in the past, but I'm looking forward to making this role my own."
What is Max George’s full name?
Max’s full name is Maximillian Albert George.
How old is he?
Max was born on 6th September 1988, which makes him 36-years-old at the time of writing.
Where is Max from?
Max George is from the north of England - Swinton, Greater Manchester to be exact.
Is Max George on tour?
Max and the boys finished their tour called 'Most Wanted - The Greatest Hits' tour and on 30th March 2022. The sad news that bandmate Tom Parker had died was announced by the band, and his wife Kelsey. Before he passed away, Tom joined The Wanted for part of their tour.
The tour started in Glasgow on 3rd March, but unfortunately Tom Parker couldn't join them for the first few dates as his cancer treatment overran.
On 7th March, Tom reunited with the band on stage and later shared photos. One of the photos shows bandmates Tom and Max together in front of the Welsh flag, he captioned the photo: 'Let’s do this Wales 🦾🏴'.
After they finished their tour, Max reflected on the shows saying: 'We did it. @tomparkerofficial .. YOU did it! All I can say in words is thank you for making such beautiful memories over the last few weeks. I love every single one of you who stuck with us. May our hearts be full, like our drinks tonight, may we sing and dance til’ we lose our minds, we are only young if we seize the night, tonight we own the night. This is not the end…..'.
The Wanted's tribute to Tom Parker
On 30th March 2022, The Wanted announced that their band member Tom Parker had passed away. Max along with the rest of the band, Jay, Siva, Nathan paid tribute to their friend, who had an inoperable brain tumour and had been receiving treatment in Spain, causing him to miss some of their tour dates.
The band wrote on Instagram: 'Max, Jay, Siva, Nathan and the whole Wanted family are devastated by the tragic and premature loss of our bandmate Tom Parker, who passed away peacefully at lunchtime today surrounded by his family and his band mates. Tom was an amazing husband to Kelsey, and father to Aurelia and Bodhi. He was our brother, words can’t express the loss and sadness we feel. Always and forever in our hearts.
'Tom Parker 1988-2022'.
Other tributes to Tom Parker can be read here.
When was Max George on Strictly Come Dancing?
Max George appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2020 with Dianne Buswell. Despite many people thinking he would take home the Glitterball trophy, unfortunately it wasn't to be, however his Strictly experience didn't stop there.
In 2022, Max partnered up with Katya Jones for the Strictly Come Dancing tour. As the tour came to a close Max took to Instagram to say: 'This has been an experience I’ll never forget. The love i have felt from this wonderful group of people will stay with me forever.'
Does Max have a girlfriend?
Max is dating EastEnders actress Maisie Smith and the two have been pretty loved up, often posting photos of each other on their Instagram accounts. The pair made things official in September 2022 after meeting on the 2020 series of Strictly Come Dancing, and Max has even got a tattoo of Maisie's face!
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