TAKE THAT: (Netflix)
Most of us remember the early days of Take That, and looking back, it’s hard not to feel a little embarrassed by things like the infamous video with jelly on bare bottoms and the metallic protective gear they wore onstage – especially considering how young they were at the time.
Honestly, the more time passes since the early nineties, the more I find myself questioning how certain trends ever became popular. It’s wild to think about what we all used to enjoy!
The new Netflix documentary about Take That is a smart look back at the band’s history. It doesn’t just rely on familiar old footage; it includes previously unreleased video that really highlights how young the members were when they first formed in 1990.
Honestly, some of the most captivating parts of this documentary come from footage shot by a young Robbie Williams himself – or as he playfully nicknamed the cameraperson, ‘Howard “Steven Spielberg” Donald’! It’s all handheld, a bit shaky, and feels so raw and immediate, like you’re right there with him.
It shows the budding stars becoming fast and genuine friends before they had tasted any success.
Nineteen-year-old Gary Barlow is being teased by his bandmates for wearing Calvin Klein underwear while they’re hanging out in their cramped dressing room. They joke it’s a step up from his typical budget briefs.
You can often spot Howard, the oldest at 22, driving their Hyundai van – it was their first tour vehicle! They used it to get to early performances, which sometimes meant simply dancing and singing along to music in school gyms.
The new show will begin streaming on Tuesday, marking nearly 30 years since the band originally split up.
As a lifelong Take That fan, it’s honestly heartbreaking to hear Gary, Mark, and Howard talk about how close the band came to tearing them apart. They’re all in their 50s now, and looking back, they’ve shared how being in one of the biggest groups ever almost completely destroyed their lives. It’s a tough story, but I admire their honesty in finally talking about it.
I’ve heard so many stories about hitting rock bottom, and Howard’s is particularly raw. He shared with me that after his band split up in ’96 – he was only 27 at the time – he actually drove to the Thames seriously considering ending his life. It’s a stark reminder that even when things seem hopeless, there’s always a path forward, and reaching out is crucial.
It really struck me hard, mainly because I realized, ‘What do I do now? All I’ve trained for is being a pop star, and… a little bit of painting.’
It really affected me deeply. I went home in shock and couldn’t believe what had happened. I was in a very dark place, seriously considering ending my life, even thinking about jumping in the river. But ultimately, I didn’t have the courage, or perhaps the self-belief, to go through with it.
It’s not only Howard who’s been struggling. Gary also shares his experiences with years of overeating, which eventually developed into bulimia, as he attempted to suppress his public image.
After the band broke up in 1996 and when his record label let him go in 1999, he’d often go to his home studio, close the door, and just go through the motions of writing music.
I used to spend hours staring at the piano, remembering when I wrote successful songs on it. But now, it felt like my opponent. I’d force myself to sit with it, timing myself until four o’clock, then consider it a productive day. It was a terrible feeling, and it lasted for years.
Gary, who is now 54, reflects on the difficult parts of their shared history, saying they can only fully understand what they’ve experienced with the benefit of time.
The group came together after Nigel Martin-Smith, a music promoter from Manchester, put out an advertisement – as many people who grew up in the 90s will remember.
He dreamed of creating a British equivalent of the American boyband New Kids On The Block. Jason Orange, Howard, Mark, and Robbie were all individual hopefuls when they first came to the auditions, not knowing each other at all.
I first discovered Gary performing at local venues like Royal British Legions – he was a truly gifted songwriter and singer. It wasn’t long before a manager recognized his talent and decided to build an entire band around him. He was already the heart of it all, really.
Martin-Smith hoped the band would become popular within the gay community, but everything changed when they played a concert for teenagers. They were overwhelmed by enthusiastic young fans, and it became immediately clear they had much broader appeal – it was a moment of sudden realization.
It took a while for the band to find success, and several of their early songs didn’t become hits. Eventually, they signed with RCA Records, who asked them to focus on music full-time. Howard, who used to paint cars, remembers being told to quit his job, which his mother didn’t approve of.
A string of chart-topping songs – including “Pray” (1993), “Relight My Fire,” “Everything Changes,” “Sure,” and “Back for Good” – satisfied their mothers and critics alike.
However, problems were beginning to surface. According to Howard, Robbie seemed to be struggling with something. He recalls Robbie having unusually wide eyes and a lot of energy on stage, leading him to suspect drug use.
Everyone was surprised when Robbie left in July 1995 at only 21 years old. Gary and Mark remember a meeting before a tour where Robbie was told to improve his attitude. He responded by saying he’d rather leave the group.
Gary initially believed this person didn’t care about anyone involved. He also expected to see them again the next day.
Robbie has revealed he struggled with severe alcoholism starting in his late teens, admitting he needed a bottle of vodka just to begin his day.
Despite his absence, the band continued performing. However, in February 1996, they confirmed rumors that they were splitting up after a remarkably successful run, having sold 20 million albums.
A fan was so upset by the news that they collapsed and had to be taken away in an ambulance.
Howard felt frustrated and lost after trying to launch a career on his own. He wasn’t able to find success as a solo artist. Looking back, he realizes this wasn’t the right path for him, explaining, ‘You really need to have complete confidence in yourself, and I just didn’t have that.’
After Robbie’s career surpassed Gary’s, he boasted that he’d always believed he was the more talented songwriter. Hurt and withdrawn, Gary went back to his home in Cheshire. He then openly and frankly shares the deeply upsetting details of his battle with an eating disorder.
I spent thirteen months completely isolating myself at home. I ate constantly, unable to stop, and would consume anything available. During this time, I committed a terrible act – I was responsible for the death of a famous singer. After each episode of overeating, I’d retreat to a dark room and vomit, hoping it wouldn’t happen again. But the cycle kept repeating.
Things began to change in 2005 when Take That reunited for the first time, appearing together in the ITV documentary Take That: For The Record. Robbie wasn’t there in person, but he did send a video message apologizing for the way the band had split up and for any harsh things he’d said about Gary.
The film received such a great response that the four band members decided to get back together. However, they did so without Martin-Smith, who, according to Gary, had previously exploited their vulnerabilities to maintain control.
Following a hugely successful tour in 2006, the band began working on their new album, Beautiful World. For the first time, all four members contributed to the songwriting and were all credited for their work.
There was a challenge, as Gary remembers it. They wanted to keep Jason on the team, but felt they also needed Robbie. However, Robbie was going through a difficult time and hadn’t been out of the house for around eight months. Gary described him as dressing in unusual outfits, resembling those worn by the 1970s singer Demis Roussos.
There was a meeting at his house in LA and over ‘20 or 25 minutes’ the two sworn enemies made up.
After Robbie unexpectedly showed up at Mark’s bachelor party in New York, the two agreed Robbie could rejoin the group in 2010 for the album Progress and its accompanying tour.
Everyone enjoyed performing together as a group, but they understood their time together would finish when the tour ended.
Howard explained that Jason told him he was finished with performing after their last show and planned to quit. Howard was upset by this, saying he considered Jason like a brother.
Mark acknowledges it was a significant change when the band went from having five members back down to three. However, he points out that this current three-member lineup has lasted longer than any other version of Take That throughout their history. He says the band is incredibly important to him and central to his life.
What’s different about this show is that it doesn’t use traditional interviews with people speaking directly to the camera. Instead, the show uses archival footage while the interviewees’ voices are heard over it.
This well-made documentary series has a surprisingly rich soundtrack, which really enhances the viewing experience.
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2026-01-21 04:50