Tom Fletcher made McFly bandmates cry with Paddington Musical songs

If there was any doubt in your mind that Paddington the Musical is an emotional rollercoaster, you should know it's already brought many a tear in the rehearsal room – to noughties boyband members no less!

In the build up to the show's world premiere at the West End, composer and lyricist Tom Fletcher revealed his McFly bandmates were some of the first to succumb to the show's soppiest moments.

Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com he said: "Dougie (Poynter) and Harry (Judd) came to one of the workshops early on, they've heard all the songs because wanted to test to see if they’d cry – they did."

He continued: "Honestly, McFly have been so supportive of this, as we all are with our separate projects. But I think they know how special this one is and they're really excited to come along with their kids."

The Voice judge added that his bandmates weren't the only ones who had supported him throughout the song writing process. "When I needed to write something for the Browns family, all I had to do was ask my wife, my sister and my son – my kids have heard the songs so many times and they've been recording all the demos with me."

Fletcher's sister is of course Carrie Hope Fletcher, a legend of the West End who has starred in the likes of Les Misérables, Elf the Musical and Heathers, while his wife Giovanna has also appeared on stage in 2:22 A Ghost Story and The Girl on The Train. His son was recently the latest to join the musical pack, starring for a limited time in Andrew Lloyd-Webber's Starlight Express.

"Theatre has just changed me and my family," he said: "I went to full time theatre school from eight to 16 and I was in Oliver when I was nine, so as a kid the West End really defined who I was. I always thought when I left school it would end up being a part of me.

"Even in McFly musicals had a massive influence on the songs I was writing, if you go back, a lot of the songs in our first two albums tell one story, and there’s a few that are really orchestral."

Even as Paddington begins, Fletcher is still in the midst of the McFly vs Busted arena tour, which wraps up in Sheffield on 6th November, making his schedule less than ideal.

"It's bonkers, I don’t get much sleep at the moment," he laughed, "I did the first week of Paddington rehearsals then I was literally going from there to McFly vs Busted rehearsals. I can't even make the first Paddington preview because we're playing the O2 that night, so it's such a juggle.

"But I mean, I also just have to pinch myself because I can't believe I get to play a sold-out O2 show on the same night the musical I've written is showing at the West End – it’s ridiculous!"

Paddington the Musical will kick off with previews from 1st November 2025, although official opening night won't be until 30th November. It is currently scheduled to run until May 2026.

You can buy tickets at LOVEtheatre and you can still get McFly vs Busted tickets at Ticketmaster and Seat Unique.

Make sure you also check out the best West End shows and best Christmas shows London.