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Gary Barlow has confirmed that he has a cameo role in the upcoming Star Wars film The Last Jedi.

The Take That mainman is a huge Star Wars fan, and confirmed on ITV's Lorraine, Monday, that he will appear in the film and better yet, his face won’t be obscured under a stormtrooper helmet.

Gary Barlow will cameo in Star Wars' The Last Jedi

Continue reading: Take That's Gary Barlow Confirms Cameo In 'The Last Jedi'

Take That are set to take a ride alongside James Corden for a very special edition of ‘Carpool Karaoke’, to air as part of this year’s Comic Relief Red Nose Day.

The British boyband have already filmed the skit with Corden in Los Angeles, and during a new interview with the Radio Times they spilled some secrets about how ‘Carpool Karaoke’ is actually filmed.

Take That will take part in a special ‘Carpool Karaoke’ for Red Nose Day

Continue reading: Take That Join James Corden For Special Comic Relief 'Carpool Karaoke'

Having been a ratings winner in its first week, Gary Barlow’s new BBC talent show ‘Let It Shine’ has reportedly slumped behind its ITV rival ‘The Voice UK’ in the viewing figures for its second episode last weekend.

The Sun reported that, having pulled in 6.8 million viewers for its launch the previous weekend, Saturday night’s show (January 14th) lost more than a million viewers to clock figures of 5.7 million. Still impressive, but it was also said to be less than ‘The Voice’ over on the other channel, a crucial aspect.

“It’s the first time that people at home have been able to choose which show they wanted to watch – and more people have gone with ‘The Voice’,” a source told the tabloid over the weekend.

Continue reading: Gary Barlow's 'Let It Shine' Drops Behind 'The Voice' In Second Week Ratings

Robbie Williams reunited with his former group Take That for the first time in five years, as he celebrated receiving the prestigious BRITs Icon Award in a special gig in London this week.

Taking to the stage at London’s Troxy venue on Monday evening (November 7th), in an intimate concert that was filmed by ITV and will be broadcast at a later date, Williams cycled through his greatest hits to mark only the third time that the BRITs have bestowed their Icon Award – Sir Elton John and David Bowie being the previous recipients.

Robbie Williams performing with Take That in 2011

Continue reading: Robbie Williams Reunites With Take That At BRITs Icon Gig

Take That have announced a UK and Ireland tour for May and June 2017, in support of their upcoming Wonderland album.

The band will hit the road for 22 dates, beginning in Newcastle at the Metro Radio Arena on May 8 and 9.

Take That will be hitting the road in 2017 for their Wonderland tour

Continue reading: Take That Announce 22 Date 'Wonderland' Tour

Gary Barlow has said he hasn't spoken to his former boss Simon Cowell in the three years since he left 'The X Factor'. Barlow’s comments come after it was reported that Cowell is considering legal action against the Take That star, over the format of his new BBC talent show.

Gary Barlow says he hasn't spoken to Simon Cowell in three years.

Speaking to The Mirror, Barlow said: "I haven’t spoken to him since I left 'X Factor' three years ago. My show’s totally separate.” Barlow was a judge on 'The X Factor' from 2011 to 2013, replacing Cowell when he left the panel. Cowell would then return to replace Barlow in 2014.

Continue reading: Gary Barlow Hasn't Spoken To Simon Cowell In Three Years

Robbie Williams will be a part of Take That’s upcoming 25th anniversary tour, according to bandmate Howard Donald. Williams first left the band in 1995, less than a year before they disbanded. The group then reformed in 2006 and Williams rejoined in 2010, before leaving again two years later.

Robbie Williams will be rejoining Take That for their 25th anniversary tour.

Speaking to The Sun, Donald, along with Gary Barlow and Mark Owen said they’d been in touch with Williams and former member Jason Orange. While Williams’ participation looks like a done deal, it’s unlikely Orange will rejoin.

Continue reading: Has Robbie Williams Signed Up For Take That's 25th Anniversary Tour?

Take That have offered some boy band-to-boy band advice to One Direction about how to carry on the aftermath of Zayn Malik’s departure, having been in the same situation themselves once upon a time.

Mark Owen was speaking to British radio station Magic FM when he was asked about the similarity of the two situations, and replied “Do you know what, one thing that we never did when Rob left us the first time is we never... You get caught up in your world and you forget sometimes... hopefully somebody's phoned Zayn and made sure he's alright, because it's, you know, it's difficult.”

Take That early in 2015

Continue reading: Take That Give Advice To One Direction On How To Cope With Losing A Band Member

On the eve of a promotional schedule for a new album, Take That singer Gary Barlow has stated that he believes that fans are not interested in his financial issues.

Gary Barlow responds bullishly to questions about tax avoidance

In an interview with The Sun over the controversy which surfaced earlier this year, Barlow said: “It’s a problem. It’s something we’ve got to get to the bottom of and sort. Our fans, they want to buy our records and watch our tours. They’re not interested. We can’t talk about it and, to be honest, I don’t want to talk about it. It’s actually a private thing.”

Continue reading: Gary Barlow Says Take That Fans "Are Not Interested" In Their Finances

Not wishing to dwell on the semi-bad publicity of having a member leave the group, trio Take That have announced a new album, titled III. Jason Orange left the group two weeks ago, though Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen have vowed to go it as a three-piece.

Take That will go on as Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald

Out in December - and probably ending up in your Christmas stocking - III will be the band's seventh album and is described as an "out-and-out feelgood pop" album produced by Greg Kurstin (Lana Del Rey, Katy Perry), Jeff Lynne (ELO), Stuart Price (The Killers) and John Shanks. Confirming the details on Twitter, the band also unveiled the artwork - an abstract group shot of the Orange-less guys looking triumphant - and a brand new song, These Days. 

Continue reading: Take That Announce Jeff Lynne-Produced New Album 'III'

Take That fans might want to have their hankies at the ready- Jason Orange has announced he is leaving the band. The news comes as the band gear up to start working on their new album, with frontman Gary Barlow stating most of the material has already been written.

Jason has called time on his involvement in Take That

In a statement on the band's website, Orange thanked fans for their support over the years, and paid tribute to his bandmates. The band first formed in 1990, consisting of Gary Barlow, Robbie Williams, Mark Owen, Jason Orange and Howard Donald. Williams famously left the band in July 1995, with the band splitting up the following year. At the time the news devestated legions of fans across the world, with the government even setting up special phone hotlines to offer support to them.

Continue reading: Not Back For Good: Jason Orange Quits Take That

Gary Barlow has apologised for allegations that he avoided tax and pledged to settle his affairs ASAP. The singer and his Take That band-mates Howard Donald and Mark Owen - along with manager Jonathan Wild - reportedly invested £66 million in Icebreaker partnerships, presented as schemes for music industry investment.

Gary Barlow has apologised for allegations of tax avoidance

In May, a judge ruled that the initiative was a tax-avoidance scheme and HM Revenue & Customs is expected to demand repayment. In July, allegations emerged that Barlow had been avoiding taxes through an investment scheme called Liberty. Michael Caine, Katie Melua and Anne Robinson were also linked to the Leeds-based tax strategy, which allegedly sheltered $1.2 billion from tax.

Continue reading: Gary Barlow Apologises For Tax Controversy (Then Announces Take That Album)

It was like 1997 all over again this weekend, as Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow battled it out for the Number One spot on the UK Album Chart. Much like the battles of the mid-to-late nineties, it was Robbie who came out on top again, making him the last artist to top the album chart in 2013.

The Take That guys were fighting for the top spot yet again

Robbie's new big band album, Swing Both Ways, held on to the No. 1 spot for a second week, having emerged victorious from another closely fought contest from last week. It was One Direction who Robbie managed to beat to the No. 1 spot last week, with his latest album beating Midnight Memories to the top spot by just 200 copies. This time around it was a relatively more clear contest, with Swing Both Ways outselling Gary Barlow’s latest solo effort, Since I Saw You Last, by approximately 12,000 copies.

Continue reading: Robbie Williams Keeps Gary Barlow Off The Top Spot On UK Album Chart

You basically can’t be an international pop star if you’ve got a fear of flying. It’s the ‘international bit – which is hard to achieve without being airborne. Unless you fancy getting a ferry around the world, like Dennis Bergkamp. The tour will feature some pretty sparse dates though.

Gary Barlow Has A Fear of Flying

This is something Gary Barlow knows all too well, although he must have been doing something to remedy it, as Take That weren’t exactly singing at the local pub. “I’m scared of flying – especially the take-off. I just don’t like it, and yet I have to do so much of it. I get really nervous,” he said. “Maybe it’s because I’m scared of dying.” (The Mirror)

Continue reading: Patience: Gary Barlow Trying To Overcome His Fear Of Flying

Courtney Love doesn’t have much of a track record when it comes to cover versions. With her band Hole, she would often play a version of Guns N Roses’ ‘Paradise City’ that she would abandon half way through. Same goes for Depeche Mode’s ‘Hungry Like A Wolf,’ though the band did release a brilliant cover of Velvet Underground’s ‘Pale Blue Eyes,’ it has to be said.

When we heard that Courtney Love covered Jay Z’s ’99 Problems,’ though, we feared for the worst. And, sadly, our fears were confirmed. “This either sucks or it’s genius, I don’t know,” she said as she introduced the song at her impromptu Sundance Film Festival set.

Continue reading: In Light Of Courtney Love Covering Jay Z's '99 Problems': Five Most Unlikely Cover Versions

Take That star Jason Orange is making a foray into acting and will appear in the final series of Channel 4's Shameless. The singer, 42, will head to the fictional Chatsworth Estate as DJ Scouse Mouse, who runs a music festival in the neighbourhood frequented by Frank Gallagher and company.

According to the BBC, it is thought Orange filmed the scenes this week, before getting a tour of the set, including The Jockey, the boozer favoured by Frank. In October, it was announced the long-run series was to come to an end after eleven series. The final batch of episodes will also feature the return of Ann-Marie Duff, the actress who rose to fame in the comedy as Fiona Gallagher before going on to become a highly respected theatre and film actress. She is married to the Scottish star James McAvoy. A show insider told the Daily Telegraph that Take That singer Orange was "nervous" before getting in front of the camera, though was a big hit with the rest of the cast. Another show source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "[Jason] had a great time on set and was line perfect for a triumphant TV acting debut."

It's not the first time Jason has played a DJ on television, starring as Brent Moyer in 1998's Killer Net television series.

Gary Barlow has announced that Take That will start work on a new album next year and they’ve got none other than Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber on board to help out with the songwriting. Quite what that will mean for the man-band isn’t clear but hopefully they’re not going to go all jazz-hands and stage musical on us.

In an interview with the Daily Mirror, Barlow confirmed “I have got a lot of Take That stuff next year and then, hopefully, a tour the year after. A new studio album feels right for us, it has always been in our minds.” He added “The band cycles are obvious. Everyone wanted a year off this year, and now everybody can't wait to get back into the studio in February and that is what we are going to do. So, hopefully, an album for Christmas and a tour the following year.” The band have been enjoying their renaissance, after splitting in 1996 and then getting back together in 2008.

Fans will no doubt be wondering just how long they’re expecting to carry on, but Barlow assured them “We’re far from over. We’re all creative, we’re singers and songwriters. There’s plenty left in us, don’t worry… Mark’s solo album is out next year. I was talking to him about it earlier today and he’s very excited about it.” Good news then… now all we need to figure out is whether or not Robbie’s going to stick with them at all.

Robbie Williams baby girl has arrived safe and sound into the world, with attention on Wednesday turning to the Take That man and wife Ayda Field’s choice of name. Would it match Williams’ personality? Would the couple play it safe? Well, it’s a yes to both, kind of.

The 38-year-old singer took to his blog today to disclose that his baby girl would be named Theodora Rose Williams. Not the world’s most common name, though it’s certainly nothing to rival the more bizarre celebrity baby names of years gone by (Apple, anyone?) However, it seems that Robbie has given his first daughter a little nickname, telling fans that she will be “affectionately known as Teddy,” while adding, “Born 3.33pm on 18.9.12, 7Ibs 4OZ…Baby, Mummy and Daddy are all rockin.... Thank you for your best wishes XXXX.” Robbie had expressed concerns last week that he may miss the London birth of his child while touring other parts of the UK, though he did have a private jet on standby. Of course he did.

Williams and wife Ayda have already confirmed their daughter will grow up as a British citizen, despite the singer owning a home in Los Angeles and spending the majority of his time there over the past couple of years.

Robbie Williams can now add Dad to long list of achievements, after his wife Ayda Field gave birth to a baby girl, reports The Sun.

A complicated birth saw Field, 33, go into labour eight days premature, but all is well, and she gave birth to a baby girl at London's private Portland Hospital. Her arrival comes just two days after Robbie finished a string of solo comeback gigs, during which he joked about rushing off-stage if Ayda gave birth, and before his gig in Dublin on September 14 he said: "We thought the baby was going to have to be induced today," but no such action was needed. A close friend of Robbie’s, Jonathan Wilkes tweeted: "Just had the best news!" The pair met in 2006, marrying four years later at Robbie’s home in Los Angeles and it was in March this year they announced that Ayda was expecting their first child.

The former Take That star has been forthcoming in the upcoming months to the birth of his first child. "Ayda's like a very slim girl with a basketball — from the back you can't tell she's pregnant. She has been like an athlete where being pregnant is concerned — she's been a machine," he said, probably trying to compliment his wife. Talking of his impending role of Dad, Williams was equally honest: "It's so alien and also I've lived a very selfish life for a very long time where I haven't had to do anything for myself,” he explained. "I still don't know how to do anything for myself and there's a little person who's going to appear within the week maybe and I'm crapping it because if I don't know how to look after me, how can I look after her?” Well you better figure it out soon, Robbie, because she’s arrived. Only joking: here at Contact Music, we wish the new family all the best.

Chris Pine, the actor set to play Captain Kirk in the upcoming Star Trek film, has talked of the pressures of taking on the iconic role.

Smokin' Aces star Pine is to step into the shoes of William Shatner in the JJ Abrams picture which tells of the adventures of the Starship Enterprise during their time at Star Fleet academy.

Though he confirmed he would reveal "not a thing" during an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the 27-year-old did let slip some small details about the movie, set for a Boxing Day release.

"I think the biggest mistake I could ever do would be to try to recreate what Mr Shatner did," he explained. "There are certain qualities that Kirk has that are vital for someone who is a leader of men.

"And those qualities, I definitely wanted to take from what Mr Shatner did in the original series. But my job is to take something new, to Take That and build upon it, really do my own thing. I just feel no pressure when it comes to that."

The young actor admitted he can understand the fears of hardcore fans but attempt to allay some of their concerns.

"I don't have that many credits and people are very worried that their Kirk is going to be destroyed. But I can only say that we're having a great time. JJ has been wonderful and the cast is phenomenal. I think what we're doing is very special."

Pine said he had not met Shatner, but added: "I've met Mr Nimoy a couple of times. He's been on set and we have a couple of scenes in the film, which will be nice, and I'm excited for those."

Though Heroes star Zachary Quinto is to play the young Vulcan, Pine's comments could imply that time travel is featured in the movie or that flashbacks will be used.

After a call for 'odd-looking' extras, much of the movie's major casting has been completed.

British comedy favourite Simon Pegg will play the young Scotty, Lord Of The Rings actor Karl Urban stars as Leonard 'Bones' McCoy and comic actor John Cho plays Mr Sulu.

Continue reading: New Captain Kirk Talks