In a poignant reunion with their 90s publicist Nicki Chapman for her Pop Idols series, the remaining members of Take That—Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, and Mark Owen—dove deep into the emotional turbulence of their thirty-year journey. As their Netflix documentary continues to trend globally, the trio shared raw reflections on the moments that nearly broke them.
On the Pain of Departure
The exit of Robbie Williams and later Jason Orange remains a defining chapter for the group. While the world saw a pop sensation, the band saw a fracturing family.
“We thought Robbie was going to be back; we never knew it was for good,” Howard admitted. “Robbie was a young boy when he left, and you didn't think about where his head was at.”
Losing Jason was equally heavy for the remaining three. “Losing Jason was a tough time... even though I knew it was coming,” Howard shared. “I feel like he'd had enough of the fame and being recognised.” Mark added a perspective of respect for those choices, noting, “I think Rob and Jason made brave decisions.”
The Struggle of the Spotlight
Gary Barlow offered a vulnerable look at his own evolution within the group. Reflecting on their 2005 comeback documentary, For The Record, he admitted the group was “scared to death” of a media "stitch-up."
“I never really felt like I was in a band in the 90s,” Gary confessed. “I always felt like I was a solo artist in a band. But when we got back together, I never needed these guys more than when I needed them then, and it felt strong.”
Looking Back and Moving Forward
Despite the record-breaking success, the band remains grounded by a lingering sense of fragility. “We still think it could end tomorrow and we go back to the day job,” Mark remarked.
While Howard joked about the 90s being a "blur" where he’d lie about visiting his mum to sneak off to see his girlfriend, the focus is firmly on the future. Gary confirmed the creative fires are still burning: “We've been writing for about a year for hopefully a new record in the fall.”
