US veterans New Kids On The Block have given One Direction some sagely advice on the perils of being a boyband, warning them that personality is key.

Speaking to the Metro, New Kids On The Block's Joey McIntyre took time to give some advice to the One Direction boys, who have recently been out in the US in an attempt to break the market.

And McIntyre reckons that they have got to build on their personalities and ensure that all the American girls out there connect with their "swagger". He said:

"Even though the UK and England are big, it still sort of has a small town feel. That's why you guys love your artists so much but boybands are so personality driven that sometimes it's about connecting with that and if the American girls don't connect with that swagger, it's hard."

Whatever may happen in the US, it seems like One Direction's popularity in the UK is going from strength to strength, with the quintet adding a mammoth 20 dates to their recently announced UK and Ireland tour.