Max George celebrates major milestone in his recovery after undergoing heart surgery

Max George has made a remarkable recovery after heart surgery and is back on stage, touring the UK with Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds

Max George has celebrated a major milestone in his recovery after undergoing heart surgery earlier this year. The 36-year-old singer, best known as a member of the boy band The Wanted, was rushed to the hospital in December after his mother noticed he had turned blue.

Tests revealed that his heart was dangerously weak, and he was fitted with a pacemaker just before Christmas. After a period of rest and rehabilitation, Max has made a strong return to the stage and is now touring the UK in Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds alongside his girlfriend, Maisie Smith.

The couple’s highly anticipated arena tour kicked off in Hull and will continue across cities including Liverpool, Nottingham, Birmingham, and London, concluding on April 20.

Max takes on the role of Parson Nathaniel, while Maisie plays his on-stage wife, Beth. Ahead of the first performance, Max shared a clip on social media showcasing his stage makeup, revealing himself covered in fake blood and bruises, which would surely surprise anyone unfamiliar with the character he portrays. He captioned the post, “Stage time…”

For a while, it was unclear if Max would be able to participate in the production due to his health struggles, but he confirmed last week that he would indeed be performing throughout the tour.

He posted on Instagram, saying, “It’s been a long road since December… but we got here! Currently in rehearsals for Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds, and it’s gonna be EPIC. Another arena tour to tick off the bucket list… including the Co-op Live Arena in my hometown for the first time.”

Max took time to reflect on the tough journey he’s been through in the past few months, admitting that his recovery had been “rough” at times. However, he emphasized how grateful he was to be feeling better and ready to hit the road again, adding: “I’m back to my best and will be performing throughout the whole tour”.

He also shared how special it was for him to be performing with Maisie, saying: “Getting to do this with Maisie is an experience I’m sure I’ll never forget.” Their relationship has grown over time, as the couple met in 2020 while competing on Strictly Come Dancing but didn’t begin dating until two years later, during the live tour.

Maisie, 23, has been by Max’s side throughout his recovery, offering unwavering support during his second heart operation in February. The additional surgery forced Max to cancel a live show with The Wanted’s new two-member lineup, which includes bandmate Siva Kaneswaran.

Max expressed his disappointment to fans, explaining: “My second heart op has just set me back a little bit with my recovery, and I’m just not going to be well enough in time”.

The singer reassured fans that he would be rescheduling the canceled performance and that he and Siva would be “working out when we’re gonna do it”. He also expressed his gratitude for the support he’s received, adding: “Siva’s been awesome, as always, and we can’t wait to get this venture going”. Although Max acknowledged his setback, he remained upbeat, telling fans, “It’s a bummer, but I’ll see you very, very soon. Love you”.

Through it all, Maisie has been his steadfast companion, and Max made sure to acknowledge her support, saying their experience on tour together is something he will cherish.

Source: Mirror