news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Showbiz-News/Robbie-Williams-Relights-The-Fire-With-Take-That-By-Rejoining-His-Old-Band/Article/201007315665827?lpos=Showbiz_News_First_Media_Article_Teaser_Region__0&lid=ARTICLE_15665827_Robbie_Williams_Relights_The_Fire_With_Take_That_By_Rejoining_His_Old_BandRobbie Relights The Fire With Take That Thursday July 15, 2010
Andy Jack, Sky News Online
Singer Robbie Williams is rejoining Take That, the band has confirmed.
Williams has already recorded an album with his former band-mates, which is being released in November.
Sky News understands he will also tour with Take That members Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange and Mark Owen.
A statement from the band says: "The rumours are true... Take That: the original line-up, have written and recorded a new album for release later this year.
"Following months of speculation Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams confirmed they have been recording a new studio album as a five-piece, which they will release in November.
"It is the first time they've recorded a full album together since the release of their number one album 'Nobody Else', back in 1995."
Williams said: "I get embarrassingly excited when the five of us are in a room. It feels like coming home."
Mark Owen says: "Getting the five of us to be in a room together, although always a dream, never actually seemed like becoming a reality.
"Now the reality of the five of us making a record together feels like a dream. It's been an absolute delight spending time with Rob again. But I'm still a better footballer."
Jason Orange said: "'Flippin' brilliant, absolutely brilliant. I'm over the moon that Robbie's back with us, however long it lasts. I just want to enjoy our time with him.
"Life is beautifully strange sometimes."
Sky News Entertainment correspondent Steve Hargrave said: "Apparently it's for just a year at first, and they will go on tour.
"It's no great surprise to Take That fans. Gary Barlow and Robbie have been talking a lot about becoming friends again.
"Robbie is releasing a greatest hits album in October, with one song recorded as a duet with Gary Barlow.
"It sets it up perfectly for this kind of fairytale reunion around Christmas time which will involve lots of spin-offs, of course."
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the band's formation.
By 1993 they had become huge and enjoyed a string of hits including Pray and Relight My Fire.
However Williams, the baby of the group, was beginning to pull in a different direction and famously enjoyed a "lost weekend" with Oasis at the Glastonbury festival in 1995.
After a wobbly start he had his own huge solo career with chart-topping singles such as Millennium and Feel.
But the reunion of his former Take That colleagues in 2005 for live dates began to overshadow his success.