JASON ORANGE

• Name: Jason Thomas Orange

• Birthdate: 10th July 1970

• Birthplace: Manchester

• Starsign: Cancer

• Parents: Tony and Jenny

• Siblings: Brothers Simon, Dominic, Justin (twin), Samuel, Oliver and half-sisters Emma and Amy; step-brother Simon and step-Sister Sarah

• Gallery: Jason Orange

After leaving school, Jason and his twin brother joined a Youth Training Scheme. He managed to get a job as a painter/decorator with a company called Direct Works. Although he enjoyed his job, he didn't want to work there for the rest of his life.

In his spare time Jason loved to break-dance. He was part of a crew called Street Machine. His amazing dancing talent also got him onto a TV program called 'The Hit Man and her', starring Pete Waterman and Michaela Strachan. Through break-dancing he met Howard Donald, who was in a rival crew. Together they formed their own crew called 'Street Beat' and went to Nigel Martin Smith, who introduced them to Gary Barlow and Mark Owen. Later Robbie Williams joined and Take That was born.

After Take That split in 1996, Jason decided to take a break from show business and he went backpacking around the world. In 1998 he went to New York to take an acting course together with Max Beesley, who had played percussion for Take That. His first role was a small part in 'Let's all go to the Fair' at London's Royal Court Theatre. His first major TV role was in Lynda La Plante's 'Killer Net' (1999). He played the sinister and far from wholesome drug dealing DJ Brent Moyer. 'Gob', a play by James Kenworth and directed by James Martin Charlton, saw him return to the theatre. He played a loud-mouthed street poet at the King's Head Theatre in Islington, London.

Since then Jason has shunned the limelight and enrolled at college studying Psychology and Sociology. He also does a lot of appearances for charity.