CRACKING America is the ultimate for any budding British group.

And boyband kings New Kids On The Block and Backstreet Boys are backing our very own One Direction to triumph this year.

If anyone should know about selling records to boyband fans it’s Joey McIntyre and Howie Dorough who have sold more than 200million albums between their two groups.

And they can’t get enough of all things British when we meet up for a spot of traditional English afternoon tea at London’s Dover Street Arts Club.

Joey says: “One Direction are the cutest things I’ve ever seen. I didn’t know if they could break America when I heard the single but now I’ve seen them I have no doubt.

“But JLS don’t have the right look.Let’s face it, you have to be cute to be in a boyband, and for people to like your personalities.

“I was talking to James Corden the other night about The Wanted. I didn’t know they don’t dance. That loses you 10 boyband points.” Joey and the rest of the New Kids – Jordan, 41, and Jonathan Knight, 43, Donnie Wahlberg, 42, and Danny Wood, 42 – scored hits including Hangin’ Tough and Step By Step in the ’80s.

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