Thursday 1 September 2022 11:01 PM Gary Barlow admits he was jealous of Robbie Williams' solo success after Take ... trends now

Gary Barlow has opened up on the intense 'jealousy' he felt over Robbie Williams' solo success after he quit Take That.

The Angels hitmaker, 48, walked away from the band in July 1995 in the middle of their Nobody Else world tour, leaving Gary and bandmates Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Howard Donald reeling.

And detailing the time in his new book A Different Stage, Gary, 51, shared that he was envious of Robbie breaking free from the band to do his own thing, admitting that he wished it was himself who had the courage to leave. 

Despite having enjoyed huge success in the five-piece with a string of hits under their belt, Robbie sensationally quit the group amid reports of musical differences and tension with management as well as his bandmates.

Reflecting on the moment Robbie - who at the time Gary told was slowly moving away from the 'Take That mothership' and partying with Britpop stars - left, the singer confessed he was tinged with envy that Robbie stepped out on his own.

He wrote: 'I felt a bit jealous that I wasn’t the one who’d stood up and said, "Up yours, I wanna have some fun. I’m a pop-star, I’m going to behave like one for a bit".

'None of us wanted to leave Take That, but watching someone else leave I — we all — couldn’t help but think about taking the leap too.'

Robbie went on to to enjoy huge chart success on his own, bagging number ones singles including Angels, She's The One, Millennium and Let Me  Entertain You, as well as countless awards.

Meanwhile, in the years following Take That's split, Gary failed to emulate his former bandmate's success as a solo artist, with the star going on to balloon to over 16 stone and become a recluse at his 117-acre estate. 

Looking back on that dark period in his life in which he suffered immense self-loathing amid embarrassment over his weight gain and his solo album flop,

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