Robbie Williams cements Take That return with group's first performance in 15 years as a five piece on X Factor

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Back together: Take That (L-R) Gary Barlow, Jason Orange, Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Robbie Williams perform for the first time in 15 years as a five-piece


Take That officially welcomed Robbie Williams back into the group with their first live performance in 15 years on the X Factor last night.

The former solo artist looked thrilled to be back alongside his friends and bandmates Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Jason Orange as they sang their new single The Flood.

Robbie, whose new wife Ayda was watching from the audience, said it was 'absolutely magical, fantastic' performing with the group again after such a long time.

After wowing the audience with their performance, the group talked to host Dermot O'Leary.

Barlow said: 'The whole day in the dressing room has been as much fun as being on here.'

Despite the hype surrounding Robbie's return to Take That, the group missed out on the No.1 spot to Rihanna's Only Girl (In The World), which clung to the top for the second week running.



Fun and games: Robbie looked he was having fun on stage as he jumped around with Mark


Back where he belongs: Robbie said it felt 'magical' to be back in Take That again


However, with their new album Progress coming out today, the quintet have been heavily tipped for No.1 in the album charts this weekend.

Online retailer Amazon.co.uk said yesterday Progress had become the biggest pre-order release of the year.

Julian Monaghan, head of music buying at Amazon.co.uk, said: 'Take That and Robbie Williams have enjoyed significant chart success over recent years but the demand for this first album with Robbie back in the fold is higher than anything that either of them have achieved before.


Rousing: Gary (left) and Mark sing The Flood, which missed out on the No.1 spot in the singles chart yesterday


'It is going to be a massive seller throughout the Christmas period and with the sell-out tour still to follow, it could be at the top end of the music charts for a long time to come.'

On Friday, the group joined Steve Wright to co-present his Radio 2 afternoon show.
Steve asked Robbie if he was 'embarrassed' to be back in the band, considering all the negative things he'd said about them since he left and the feud he had with Gary.


Heralding his return: Robbie was the first bandmember to sing


Avid listeners: Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh watched the group from the judging table


But Robbie insisted: 'Nobody said anything bad apart from me, so it's fine. We've had two years getting to know each other again. I aired my differences with Gary when we first had our big meet, he aired his with me and since then, it's fine.

'Since the night we all had a big chat, it (the feud) hasn't been on the table as anything to be concerned with.'

When Steve joked about how well the band were ageing however, Robbie joked that he was already considering anti-ageing plastic surgery.

He laughed: 'I'll have everything done. I'll look like Sylvester Stallone's mum.'


Support: Robbie arriving at the X Factor studios on Sunday evening with his wife Ayda Field




source: dailymail