After a career blip with their fifth album, McFly have come back stronger, sharper and more in demand than ever, writes Chris Price.

There was a time when getting an interview with the drummer or the bassist in a band was seen as second fiddle to a chat with the frontman.

Throw in a bit of prime time TV success and by the end of last year, McFly’s drummer Harry Judd and bassist Dougie Poynter had become the most in-demand celebs in Britain.

The public fell in love with McFly once again when Harry won the Strictly Come Dancing glitterball and Dougie was crowned King of the Jungle on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.

The timing of their TV success was impeccable. The band’s fifth studio album, Above the Noise, peaked at a comparatively low No20 in the UK last year.

It could have been argued their career was on the wane, until Harry and Dougie’s reality success catapulted the band back into the headlines and the nation’s hearts. So much so, McFly – completed by vocalists and guitarists Danny Jones and Tom Fletcher – are hitting the road on a 26-date UK tour, including two Kent venues, and are also busy writing their sixth record.

“To be completely honest, I never did this to boost my own profile” said Harry of his run on Strictly in an interview at the time. “I genuinely didn’t. I’m 100% happy in McFly – everything is great. I’m representing McFly. It’s good if people can feel like they get to know me, that is nice. But I’m not looking to go solo after.”

Dougie was equally coy in an interview after his winning jungle experience.

“I didn’t do the show to try and boost ticket sales for the tour or anything like that,” he said.

“That’s not how we run McFly. I did the show because the opportunity came up and everybody knows how much I’ve always wanted to go and live in the jungle for a bit. It’s something I would’ve paid to do if it wasn’t on TV.”

The cynical might roll their eyes at these suggestions that Harry and Dougie’s reality appearances were not all part of a profile-boosting exercise for McFly, whose hits include Obviously, All About You and Star Girl.

However, when Harry spoke to What’s On about what the band are hoping to achieve after eight years, there was an honesty which made the “doing it for the band” chat believable.

“We are always trying to write something career defining,” said Harry, 26, who has dated violinist Izzy Johnston from Britain’s Got Talent finalists Escala since 2005.

“We always make the best album possible.

“The most enjoyable time is when you hear songs back yourself. We have had some high-quality albums, not just singles, and that is how we have kept fans into the music.”

Despite the lukewarm reception for Above the Noise, the reception for the band’s tour has been as huge as ever.

Strictly and I’m A Celebrity are undoubtedly a part of this but no one would deny that McFly are still just as passionate about being in a band as they have ever been.

More slick and sexy...

McFly’s first and second albums, Room on the 3rd Floor and Wonderland, were both No1s, while their third and fourth efforts made the top 10.

They also had recorded seven No1 singles before releasing Above the Noise last year. Despite only making it to No20, the record received generally positive reviews, in part thanks to producer Dallas Austin. However, the band’s drummer Harry Judd stands by the album.

He said: “The best lyrics are when you start out to write the lyrics first and not try to make them fit with a melody you have already written.

“The main influence of course on the album was writing songs and new sounds with Dallas Austin. Songs could have gone a certain way but he put a Prince vibe on it. It was more slick and sexy.”

McFly perform at Margate’s Winter Gardens on Tuesday, March 13. Doors 7pm. Tickets £27.50. Box office 01843 296111. They then play Folkestone’s Leas Cliff Hall on Wednesday, March 14. Tickets £28.50. Box office 0844 871 7627.