Back for good, Robbie? Take two as Williams rejoins Take That for £50million album and tour

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoVVwXrAnNAendofvid
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By Ben Todd and Sara Nathan

Together again: Jason Orange, Howard Donald, Mark Owen, Gary Barlow and Robbie Williams yesterday


It's taken more than a little patience from Take That's army of female fans.

But last night, 15 years after he quit the band for solo superstardom, it was confirmed that Robbie Williams has rejoined the group after finally healing the rift with the other members.

The singer left millions of teenage girls in tears by walking out on the chart-topping group at the height of their fame in 1995.


Friends again: Robbie stands with one-time enemy Gary Barlow after Take That announced the band have reformed


A statement from the band last night said: 'The rumours are true... Take That: the original line-up, have written and recorded a new album for release later this year.'

The record, as yet untitled, will be released in November.

It is then expected Williams will join his bandmates - Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange and Mark Owen - for a huge stadium tour next summer.

His return is initially said to be for one year.


Pensive: The band look thoughtful as they ponder their future together


Giggles: The new lineup of Take That will be releasing an album and going on tour


The band members could each earn £10million from the reunion.

Last night Williams said: 'I get embarrassingly excited when the five of us are in a room. It feels like coming home.'

Owen, who was Williams' best friend in the band, added: '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.'


A band once more: Robbie (far right) sits with Take That bandmates (right to left) Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Jason Orange


Harmonising: Robbie said he is 'embarrassingly excited' about rejoining the band


Jason Orange said: 'Flippin' brilliant, absolutely brilliant. Life is beautifully strange sometimes.'

The five stars met in New York last September, in the aftermath of Owen's stag party.

Shortly afterwards all of the band secretly wrote and recorded the six songs which set the foundation for the forthcoming album.

Between them, Take That and Williams have sold more than 80million albums, notching up 13 No. 1 albums and 17 No. 1 singles.


Their new album will be released exactly 20 years since the band first sang live on TV in 1990.


The end came in 1995 after a fallout over Williams' drug-taking and a conflict with Barlow over musical direction.

Williams' became Britain's biggest solo star, scoring huge hits with Angels and Rock DJ.

But when Take That - who themselves split in 1996 a year after Williams left - reformed in 2005, the quartet topped the charts again, while Williams' career floundered.

There was a thawing in relations and last November he joined his former bandmates on-stage at the Children In Need concert at the Royal Albert Hall.


Take That without Robbie: The band became a success once more without Robbie, while Williams' solo career took a dive



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