The absence of Jason Orange is quite glaring to fans in Netflix's new Take That documentary. The three-part series, released on 27 January, revisits the history of one of the UK's most successful pop groups while raising fresh questions about a former member no longer seen on screen. Some viewers ask: Who is Jason Orange, and why did he leave the group?
Jason Thomas Orange was born on 10 July 1970 in Manchester, Lancashire, arriving minutes before his twin brother Justin. Before music, he was active in dance, performing with Manchester breakdance crew Street Machine, who won the local round of the UK Breakdancing Championship in 1985. He also appeared on television programme The Hit Man and Her and was part of a late-1980s dance duo called Look Twice.
Early Career Before Take That
Orange joined Take That at its formation in 1990, becoming part of a group that would dominate UK pop culture through the early 90s. For those unfamiliar, Take That is a British pop group formed in Manchester originally consisting of Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Mark Owen, Jason Orange and Robbie Williams. They became one of the UK's most successful boy bands of the 1990s, known for chart-topping singles and stadium tours.
The band achieved global success, selling more than 45 million records worldwide and attracting millions of fans. Orange remained with the group until their split in February 1996.
Following the band's hiatus, Orange briefly pursued acting, appearing in the 1998 crime drama Killer Net, where his role was used prominently to attract viewers. In 1999, he took the lead role in a London stage production of Gob, written by Jim Kenworth.
The Take That Reunion Years
Take That reunited in 2005 without Robbie Williams, releasing a greatest hits album before returning with new material. Their 2006 album Beautiful World marked the group's first studio release since 1995, with Orange contributing both lead vocals and songwriting. Further releases followed, including The Circus in 2008 and Progress in 2010, after Williams rejoined.
Alongside music, Orange continued occasional acting work during the reunion years. In April 2013, he appeared in a cameo role as DJ Scouse Mouse in Channel 4 comedy series Shameless. This would become one of his last appearances before stepping away from public life.
Why Jason Orange Left Take That
On 24 September 2014, it was announced that Orange had left Take That, citing his wish to retire from the entertainment industry. In a statement, he said he had spent some of the best years of his life with the band and thanked his bandmates, describing them as brothers. He confirmed there had been no falling out and that the decision was his alone.
In a 2023 interview, Mark Owen said Orange felt he no longer wanted to continue, adding that he would not speak on his behalf.
Why Jason Orange Is Absent From The Documentary
Netflix confirmed ahead of release that Orange would not take part in a new interview for the documentary. While his voice appears through archive material, he does not feature alongside current members Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen. Robbie Williams also appears through archived interviews rather than new footage.
Since leaving the band, Orange has lived a private life and is rarely seen in public. He has not returned to music or acting since retiring in 2014.
