Chart-topping group The Wanted claim people "instantly put [them] 10 steps backwards" because they're a boyband.

The British-Irish stars - comprising Max George, Siva Kaneswaran, Jay McGuiness, Tom Parker and Nathan Sykes - find it frustrating when they are criticised for their pop anthems.

Speaking to the UK edition of Glamour magazine, Sykes revealed: “It’s harder to get the credit as a credible music artist because people instantly put you ten steps backwards. We get it all the time: ‘We don’t like you because you’re a boy band, but we like your songs.’ No one walks up to Kings of Leon and says, ‘I don’t really like you guys because you’re a rock band, but I like your songs.'"

The Wanted have enjoyed success with their hit singles including Glad You Came, and are currently in the process of cracking the US.

Sykes admits they still have a long way to go with raising their profile over the pond.

He explained: “This is a transition period, where we have to work even harder than we did to try and break the song, to break our name as an actual band. At the moment, the song is bigger than us in America and that’s the reality of it.”

The Wanted insist they are committed to achieving their dreams though, with Parker adding: “There are so many times when you’re doing a 16-20 hour day for two weeks solid and you’re like, ‘F**k, I’m so tired.’ But you have to try and put things into perspective.

"This is an amazing opportunity and it would be stupid to sit here and moan about it.”