By Emma Gritt
Published: | Updated:
Harry Styles might have undergone a transformation from schoolboy to international teen heartthrob, but his childhood best friend says he's still the same.
Nick Clough has shared some photos and stories that give a glimpse of some of the antics he and 19-year old singer got up to before he found fame on the X Factor.
Touchingly, he has also revealed that he still spends time with the One Direction star, and even had the chance to listen to a CD that his one time girlfriend Caroline Flack made for him when he went for a drive in his sports car.
Old friends: Harry Styles (L) before he was famous with his school friend Nick Clough
'I've driven his Audi R8 and that was amazing. He's really humble about it. Everyone in the houses on my estate was at their windows. We had a little drive around, catching up, listening to music.
'He had a CD in the car that Caroline Flack made for him. It was made up of cute little songs that they listened to together,' Nick told the Sunday Mirror.
'One song on there was Call Me Maybe and we were singing along to it. Then we went to McDonalds and had a drive-through.'
White Eskimo: Harry Styles (second from left) and Nick (third from left) posing with their school band
Fun loving: Harry is seen dancing around listening to music on an iPod through a pair of headphones
There was outrage when it was revealed that Harry was dating Xtra Factor host Caroline, who at the time was 32 to his 17.
Nick also revealed that his boybander friend had a crush on another celebrity squeeze years before even meeting her.
Apparently Harry was 15 when he first saw a Taylor Swift video in 2009 and immediately fancied her.
'He was like "oh my god, she's really really good looking. I would do anything for a bit of that". Then he went and got with her years later!' said Nick.
The boys grew up together in Holmes Chapel, Cheshire where Nick, now a trainee stockbroker, still lives.
As well as attending school together, they were also in a band, White Eskimo, and worked Saturdays together at a local bakery.
Nick has fond memories of the boys sharing deep fried crispy beef in chilli sauce from the takeaway two doors down from Harry's house.
Udderly ridiculous: Harry fools around with a cow in a field near his Cheshire home
Hounding girls: Harry has apparently always been good at flirting with the opposite sex
'We stayed at each other's houses at least three times a week. We'd go out on Friday, wake up, reheat the takeaway leftovers, stagger in to work on Saturday, spend all day together, then go in to Manchester to spend our wages.
'Even though we couldn't drink in pubs, we would just hang out, scraping our pennies together to buy a few beers.'
Today, Harry and his bandmates, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Liam Payne, are worth an estimated £5 million each.
But it was only a few years ago that Harry's champagne lifestyle was more of an alcopops one.
In one photo shown to the paper by Nick, Harry can be seen lying in a bed surrounded by cans of cheap Carling lager and bottles of blue WKD.
Schoolboy: Harry displayed plenty of cheeky chappie attitude when he was still at school
Stylish hat: Harry Styles shows off an interesting umbrella hat on a day out with friends
Then, in what's sure to be a revelation to get fans of a certain ilk's hearts pounding, Nick revealed that Harry rubbed a part of his anatomy against a woman's car window when he returned to his hometown for an eighteenth birthday party.
'Harry isn't shy about his body. It's more about the attention and causing a stir than being naked. We went to one of my mate's eighteenth birthday parties and he came home especially for it.
'One of the mums came round and he thought it would be funny to get his k**b out and put it against her car window. No one's offended by it, people are just like "oh Harry!"'
Magic juggler: Harry looked fascinated by some glass orbs when he met a performer painted silver
Tattoo lover: Harry showed off a love of bodyart even before he had been in the tattooist's chair
Some of the other photos shared by Nick shed light on Harry's first attempt at making it as a musician when he was in a schoolyard indie band called White Eskimo.
But despite looking confident in the snaps, Nick says Harry struggled to sing in front of an audience, and was worried that people would laugh at him or make fun of his singing.
Nick adds that Harry has always been a fun-loving and popular guy, and the photos certainly illustrate this.
Fooling around: Harry lies in a bed surrounded by bottles of blue WKD and Carling
Little cutie: Harry pulls a funny face at the camera as he japes around at school with Nick
In one he is seen cosying up to a girl while dressed as Scooby Doo, and in another wearing a hat with an inbuilt umbrella.
Harry clearly paid attention in politics classes at school after he posted a tribute to Baroness Thatcher.
'RIP Baroness Thatcher .x' [sic] he tweeted, shortly before posting up a picture of a bunch of small bananas.
His twelve million followers shared his grief and offered condolences.
'What happened to him?' tweeted one concerned fan.
As an avid follower and enthusiast of celebrity culture, particularly in the realm of pop music and the entertainment industry, I bring a wealth of knowledge and insight into the dynamics surrounding well-known figures like Harry Styles. My understanding extends beyond the surface, delving into the intricate details of their personal lives, career trajectories, and the evolution of their public personas.
Now, let's break down the key concepts mentioned in the article by Emma Gritt:
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Nick Clough's Insight into Harry Styles' Past:
- Nick Clough, Harry Styles' childhood best friend, provides a glimpse into the singer's pre-fame life.
- Shared photos and stories depict the antics they engaged in before Styles found fame on the X Factor.
- Despite his international teen heartthrob status, Clough attests that Styles remains humble and unchanged.
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Harry Styles' Friendship with Nick Clough:
- Clough mentions spending time with Styles and even driving his Audi R8.
- Recounts an experience of listening to a CD made by Styles' former girlfriend, Caroline Flack, during a drive in the sports car.
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Harry Styles' Early Years and Relationships:
- The article touches on Styles' early dating controversies, including his relationship with Xtra Factor host Caroline Flack when he was 17 and she was 32.
- Reveals that Styles had a crush on Taylor Swift when he was 15, years before they officially got together.
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The Childhood Bond between Nick Clough and Harry Styles:
- Clough and Styles grew up together in Holmes Chapel, Cheshire.
- They were part of a school band called White Eskimo and worked together at a local bakery on Saturdays.
- Shared memories include enjoying takeout together and spending weekends in each other's houses.
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Harry Styles' Rise to Fame with One Direction:
- Styles and his bandmates (Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Liam Payne) are now estimated to be worth £5 million each.
- The article contrasts Styles' current success with his more modest lifestyle just a few years ago.
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Revelations about Harry Styles' Personality:
- Nick Clough reveals instances of Harry's playful and attention-seeking behavior, such as an episode at an eighteenth birthday party.
- The article includes photos illustrating Styles' early attempts at music, his love of body art, and a quirky sense of style.
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Harry Styles' School Days and Musical Beginnings:
- Styles' early attempt at making it in the music industry with the schoolyard indie band White Eskimo is highlighted.
- Despite confidence in photos, Clough mentions Styles' initial apprehension about singing in front of an audience.
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Harry Styles' Social Media Presence:
- The article briefly mentions Styles' social media activity, including a tweet expressing condolences for Baroness Thatcher's death.
By dissecting these concepts, it's evident that Harry Styles' journey from a schoolboy in Cheshire to a global music sensation is rich with diverse experiences and relationships that have shaped his personality and career.
