Jason Orange

Jason Thomas Orange, born 10 July 1970 is an English musician and dancer. He is a member of the pop band Take That who gained popularity in the 1990s and are currently enjoying further success since their reunion in 2005.


Early fame and Take That


Orange's first experience with fame came when his breakdancing skills (he was a member of the Manchester-based Street Machine "crew") gained him work as a dancer on the television programme, The Hitman and Her.
In 1990, Orange was selected to be a part of Nigel Martin Smith's new male vocal group Take That, which he planned as Britain's answer to the U.S. boyband New Kids on the Block.




After Take That


After Take That disbanded on 13 February 1996, Orange was the only group member who did not contemplate a solo career in music and instead tried his hand at acting. As a result, this led to him playing DJ Brent Moyer in the Lynda La Plante thriller Killer Net in 1998, which was shown on Channel 4. In 1999, he performed in the stage production Gob by Jim Kenworth at The King's Head Theatre in London. However, his ambitions to forge a career as an actor were ultimately unsuccessful and he gave up acting, stating that he could not stand the auditions.
According to the documentary Take That: For The Record, Orange also travelled across Europe after Take That broke up in 1996. In 2001, he attended South Trafford College in Greater Manchester, studying A-level English, and an access course including psychology, biology, and history though he did not progress to higher education.




Take That reunion



Orange is currently back with Take That, who reformed in 2005 and released a new album, Beautiful World, on 27 November 2006. During the 1990s, Orange was mainly a backing vocalist and dancer within the group and never performed lead vocals on any songs (though he does sing the first line of the bridge to the song "Never Forget"). The "Beautiful World" album features Orange on lead vocals for the first time in Take That, on the song "Wooden Boat." He also performed the song live on the Beautiful World Tour in 2007. On the tour's opening night in Belfast he apologised if it was "pitchy" and admitted "...it took me 17 years to do that."
On Take That's 2008 album, The Circus, Orange sang lead on the track "How Did It Come To This" as well as sharing the lead vocals on the track "The Garden" in the second verse, and sings second vocal on the second single "Up All Night". He also sings lead vocal on the B-side track "84".
On Take That's 2010 album, Progress, Orange sings lead vocal on the hidden bonus track "Flowerbed".
Orange now also plays guitar onstage. He picked up the instrument for the first time during the making of Take That's no.1 hit, "Babe" in 1993.




Personal life


Born in Crumpsall in North Manchester, to now divorced parents, Orange has five brothers (including a twin brother), as well as three half-sisters.
Orange's family moved to the Wythenshawe area of South Manchester whilst he was a child. He attended Haveley Hey Primary School, and later attended South Manchester High School (which closed in August 1999) in the same district. He left school with no qualifications and went on a YTS scheme as an apprentice painter and decorator with Direct Works, the local council's repair and maintenance division.
As a youth, he was raised Mormon by his family, but they renounced the faith when he was a teenager. In an interview, Orange claimed that although he currently believes in God, "I'm still questioning religion."
Orange is the only member of Take That who has never married.
In October 2011 it was reported that Jason was dating 'funnygirl' Catherine Tate after the pair meeting at Comic Relief 2010.