POP reunions by Westlife and the Spice Girls aren’t the only ones taking place in 2019 — McFly are getting in on the action, too.

The group are reforming to work on their sixth record, 15 years after their breakthrough and nine years after studio album Above The Noise.

9 McFly will record their sixth record nine years after their last studio album Credit: Daniel Jones - The Sun

Bassist Dougie Poynter said: “McFly will at least start writing by the summer and I can’t wait.

“I love that band and I love the guys. It’s awesome.”

It will be welcome news for fans who have been unsure about the group’s future since the last tour more than two years ago.

McFly scored seven UK No1 singles and 19 top ten tunes as well as teaming up with Busted for a joint album and live shows as McBusted in 2014.

9 The band made their debut breakthrough 15 years ago Credit: PA:Press Association

But Dougie, who launched the band in 2004 with Harry Judd, Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones, said McFly’s return was initially supposed to happen last year.

He explained: “We decided to take some time off after we did McBusted because it was a two-year tour and there was naturally some other things everyone wanted to do.

Tom Fletcher announces McFly will be going on TOUR this year

“It actually worked out really well because all the other guys had kids in that time, so they’ve all been home for their kids.

“It almost happened last year but someone had a project or something that was coming up smack bang in the middle. And we just didn’t think there was any point.”

9 McFly's return was initially supposed to happen last year but they decided to take some time off after McBusted Credit: Getty - Contributor

And although they are yet to start writing their next album together, Dougie has been penning some songs.

Speaking on the Sappenin’ podcast, he added: “I secretly kind of am, I’ve got a bunch of ideas so I’m waiting for when we go in.”

Here’s hoping that speeds things along a bit.

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BIZARRE COLUMN

No1 Ava brings the Max factor

AFTER narrowly missing out on the Christmas No1 spot, Ava Max scored the first No1 of 2019 yesterday with Sweet But Psycho.

The anthem, which is top of the chart for the second week in a row, is the US pop star’s first hit single.

9 American singer Ava Max has first UK No1 of the year Credit: PR

But Ava is no overnight sensation – having spent 16 years trying to make it in the music biz.

Her family even moved from Virginia to Los Angeles when she was 14 to try to make her dreams come true but she struggled to be taken seriously as a teenager.

Her new-found fame has been all the more surprising for her parents.

In an exclusive interview Ava, now 24, said: “I’ve been trying to make it in the industry for a long time.

“They never really believed that it was going to happen for over ten years.

“I started when I was eight years old, so now that something good is happening they’re in shock. But they are also very happy for me because they know about all the struggles in the past.”

YouTuber Mark Hoyle’s parody of Starship’s 1985 rock anthem We Built This City is set to be the surprise Christmas No1

Despite the setbacks, Ava knew her song – which has been streamed 7.95million times in the UK this week – would be a hit.

She added: “It has been a whirlwind, honestly. I’m really excited people are relating to it.

“When we finished it, we were like, ‘This is something special.’”

She was right there.

Instaglam

9 Vicky shares snap of herself in tight pink swimsuit on hol

VICKY Pattison gets this selfie off her chest as she relaxes on holiday in Mexico

Biz meter EDDIE Redmayne isn’t a fan of The X Factor. Asked if he watches the show, he said: “No. But occasionally on a Saturday night I will turn it on because, particularly when I’m working, I find like I can’t watch proper television. I have to just watch mindless reality TV.”

NOUGHTIES pop fans are in luck, Samantha Mumba is making a comeback. She has signed a record deal and has been writing new tunes with singer Mnek for an album which is due out later this year. She scored six top ten singles between 2000 and 2002.

LILY Allen is considering a full-time career in politics. She said: “I might have to, because I don’t think I can do pop music for much longer. Me and Kanye [West] . . . Imagine, if Kanye was President and I was Prime Minister. It would be lit.” God forbid.

EMMA Bunton is scared of more than just Mel B ahead of the Spice Girls summer tour. Fearing a fall from the towering white platform trainers she made famous on stage in the band’s heyday, she said: “I’m a bit frightened about dancing in them again.”

It's Katy Furry

KATY Perry is known for her wacky ­outfits – on stage and off.

But she took her fashion sense to mountainous heights on her skiing hol with boyfriend Orlando Bloom, matching this furry coat with huge blue earmuffs.

9 Katy Perry wears multicoloured fur jacket on ski hol with boyfriend Orlando Bloom

9 The couple celebrated the New Year with Katy's ex Diplo and actress Kate Hudson Credit: BackGrid

The couple have been hitting the slopes in Aspen, Colorado, where they welcomed in the New Year with Katy’s ex Diplo and actress Kate Hudson.

That get-up was one way to stand out from the other A-listers there.

I begged to Sy-go

FLEUR East has revealed she begged to be dropped by record label Syco after they refused to release her music.

The I’m A Celeb star, who yesterday debuted her comeback single Favourite Thing, split from them in 2017 – almost two years after hit single Sax.

9 Fleur begged Syco to let her go so she could make new music Credit: Getty - Contributor

She said: “I was going into meetings, like, ‘When’s the next release?

“I guess I was quite bold, as I pushed meetings and just said, ‘What is happening?’.

“I said, ‘If we’re not releasing and if we’re stuck, then please just let me know’.”

Speaking to HuffPost, she added: “They were really respectful and said, ‘You’re such a big talent, we don’t want to hold you back. And we’re stuck. So . . . we’re just going to let you go’ ”.

Judging by her new single, she made the right move.

Fleur East gets emotional as her sister comes to visit the I'm A Celebrity camp

Rita hol date may rile Kate

KATE Moss and Rita Ora have become good pals over the years.

But the supermodel may not be quite as friendly after Rita was seen enjoying a holiday awayday with Kate’s ex-husband Jamie Hince.

9 Rita Ora is thought to have hung out with Kate Moss' ex-husband Jamie Hince Credit: Getty - Contributor

The singer welcomed in the New Year in the Maldives, where Nick Grimshaw and Noel Gallagher were also staying.

And she risked the wrath of Kate by spending an afternoon on board a yacht with several pals and The Kills guitarist Jamie.

I doubt Rita was too interested, after spending Christmas with Hollywood heart-throb Andrew Garfield

Speaking about Kate in 2015, Rita said: “She’s one of the nicest, most motherly caring people on the planet. She’s like my sister, I call her my ‘mama Kate.’”

Mama might want a quiet word when she gets home.

moat read in bizarre BABY ON THE WAY Ashley Tisdale is pregnant with first child as she shows off baby bump 'DREAM HOME' Georgia Kousoulou and Tommy Mallett reveal incredible home renovation in Essex 'NOT HESTON' Gordon Ramsay is savaged by unhappy diner over tiny £23 steak and chips BLEEDING LOVELY Inside Simon Cowell's LA mansion he 'bought from Leona Lewis for $3.7m' BODY PROUD Corrie's Tina O'Brien blasts trolls who asked if she'd had a 'fat transplant' Exclusive HIGHLANDERS Love Island fans spot laughing gas canisters in Molly Mae and Tommy Fury's flat

Biz bits

TAKE That fans have just a few days left to see musical The Band in the West End before the final show on Jan 12. It will spend two weeks at The Lowry in Salford from Jan 16, then the tour runs UK-wide until March.

Madonna had choice words for her critics after she was accused of ­having bum implants. She ranted: “Desperately seeking no one’s approval . . . and entitled to free agency over my body like ­everyone else!”