McFly drummer Harry Judd dropped a basketball mid-routine during a live performance of High School Musical at London's Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, but his quick-thinking recovery won praise from the audience.
Judd, 43, is currently playing Coach Bolton in the stage adaptation, a role he took over from Jason Donovan. He is scheduled to perform in the production until January 3.
Mishap Caught on Camera
A TikTok video shared by audience member Caitlin Bunce captured the moment Judd fumbled the ball while attempting to pass it between his legs during a choreographed dance sequence. The prop rolled out of reach, and Judd briefly chased after it before returning to his mark.
He then held up a finger to the audience, as if asking for a moment, and continued the routine by miming an invisible basketball. One dancer behind him was visibly laughing at the improvisation. A stagehand later returned the ball so he could finish the number.
Professional Recovery Praised
Bunce praised Judd's response in her caption, noting that his head "clearly wasn't in the game," while also saying she "loved" the way he "just went with it." The incident highlights how performers handle unexpected moments in live theatre.
From Pop-Punk to the Stage
Judd rose to fame in 2003 when he joined McFly at age 17. The band's debut single, 5 Colours In Her Hair, was released in 2004, and their debut album, Room on the 3rd Floor, reached number one in the UK, making them the youngest band to achieve a chart-topping debut album since The Beatles.
The original High School Musical film premiered in 2006, when Judd was 20. He also won the ninth series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2011, a victory that likely contributed to his casting in the energetic theatre role.
