With five studio albums, 14 sellout tours, and over 30 different awards, you might best remember Danny Jones for his role in pop-rock band McFly, the four-piece responsible for keeping tracks such as “Five Colours in Her Hair” and “All About You” stuck in your head since the early 2000s.

Jones, however, has a lot more under his belt than a Smash Hits award for 2005’s “Most Snoggable Male” might suggest. After finishing McFly’s Anthology tour in late 2016 – the band’s first series of shows after two years of touring with James Bourne and Matt Willis as McBusted – the musician has been working on a number of solo projects including some exclusive writing and producing for One Direction. Most recent is Jones’ stint as a judge on The Voice Kids alongside Pixie Lott and will.i.am, the latest tear-jerking talent show to be aired on ITV.

Somewhere between the show’s finale earlier this month and preparing for his first child with former Miss England, Georgia Horsley, we managed to grab a few minutes with the man who helped score the soundtrack to the best part of our youth.

How was going back on tour last year with just the other members of McFly? Was it strange after touring for so long as McBusted?

No, not strange at all! Just a lot more room on stage as there was only three other dudes running around with guitars instead of five.

Fair enough. How do you think the industry has changed since your first tour in 2004?

The industry has changed a lot. Streaming has become huge and socials are now a vital part of promotion; we used to sell physical CD’s and do Saturday morning TV which was ace! It’s a super exciting time at the minute as consumers have their very own library of music that they can search and research whenever they want. I do think it has gotten harder for new artists to solidify a loyal, active fanbase though. It’s ok having a smash on Spotify or iTunes and be on all the playlists, but that can be short lived. It seems at the minute that we are a ‘skip’ nation and we don’t seem to even listen to a whole song without skipping onto the next without even knowing who it was. It’s the only downfall about having whatever music you want whenever and wherever.

You’ve done a lot of producing and DJing recently. How does that compare to writing and performing as a band?

They are all completely different. I DJ as a hobby, nothing super serious, but it’s ace fun. However, it doesn’t even compare to playing my guitar; the smell, the feel and the sound of an instrument always wins for me. Performing live, especially with the boys…there is nothing better. But I do like DJing, it’s a kind of escape for me. To go and play a show with your best bros is a superb feeling. Producing I also love, it’s a chance to start with nothing and end up with magic without any opinions. Getting something to sound sonically right is a challenge but it’s a challenge that I love.

Everyone has been loving The Voice Kids, how did you get involved with that?

I asked. I didn’t know they were doing a kids version and when they asked if I would be interested in a kids versions I said yeah! It was very exciting to think that you could find young undiscovered UK talent and help mould them into what they wanted to become. I’ve loved every minute of it.

Ok, quickfire round. Pixie Lott or will.i.am?

Ooh…both!

Backstreet Boys or Westlife?

Backstreet Boys.

McFly or McBusted?

If I had to decide…Mcfly.

Popstar or Opera Star?

Popstar.

Never Mind the Buzzcocks or 8 Out of 10 Cats?

8 Out of 10 Cats.

Favourite member of 1D?

Niall. His banter is on another level.