Take That’s Gary Barlow reveals he’s ‘desperate’ to release album & tour with the band after 4-year break

THE wait for Take That’s return may soon be over, four years after their last studio album.

Gary Barlow has revealed he is “desperate” to get back with Howard Donald and Mark Owen, with plans for both a tour and a record as soon as it is safe to stage arena gigs again.

In an exclusive chat, the Relight My Fire singer told me: “We’re desperate to come back and do something as soon as big venues are up and running again.

“I don’t know what it will be yet, whether it’s a tour or album, or both even. But Take That are going nowhere.”

That will be music to the ears of the band’s loyal fans, who had questions over the trio’s future following their 30th anniversary greatest hits record and tour in 2019. And asked about the prospect of a 40th anniversary show at the end of the decade, Gary said the lads have already thought about it.

He explained: “I think we will, as long as we are all fit and healthy. I think we all love the experience of being on stage. We love being in Take That.

"That greatest hits album marked a moment for us, and we are happy for that moment to just hold there, but I don’t think it will be long before we’re back. The touring side is such a big part of it for us, so we’ll wait until people are safely back and feeling confident.”

Fans won’t have to wait long to see and hear Gary though, as he will be on BBC1 at 10.45pm on Friday for his one-off special Gary Barlow: I’m With The Band.

Following the same format as his Crooner Sessions on Instagram during last year’s first lockdown, it will see him perform tracks with special guests including Anne-Marie, Craig David, James Bay, Jamie Cullum and McFly’s Tom Fletcher.

And Gary is hoping it can become a regular show so his own bandmates, as well as ex-Take That star Robbie Williams, can join him. He said: “They’ve seen the show and loved it. I’d love to have the guys on. Robbie would enjoy it.”

There is no stopping Gary since he turned 50 in January, but hitting the milestone hasn’t impacted his good looks. And unlike most celebrities who go under the knife to prevent ageing, he insists avoiding chips is what has kept him looking young.

He said: “I try to eat really healthily. And because I had an eating disorder in the 2000s I’m not one for having two plates of chips. It makes me feel depressed, and I hate that feeling. My wife Dawn has diabetes but the positive is I follow what she’s eating. She stays away from starchy, floury foods and not too many carbs. It’s just having a little bit of knowledge about what works for you.

“It’s nice to have a few drinks but don’t do it every night. If you do, the possibilities are you’re going to get bigger, then you won’t be as happy with yourself.”

And on any cosmetic work — including rumours of a hair transplant — he added: “I haven’t had anything done yet and I just can’t see there being a day where I get too hung up on how I look. I keep getting asked if I’ve had my hair done and I haven’t.

“I like to look nice, you know, on TV and stuff and I’ll have someone in to do my hair. But I’m not sure I’m that type of person to be that unhappy with how I look to go under anaesthetic.” As one of the most recognisable men in British music, I hope he keeps it that way.

MABEL TIES THE KNOT

MOST people would get their knickers in a twist wearing an outfit like this, but it looks like Mabel wasn’t even wearing any.

She was all tied up in this halterneck jumpsuit for a night out in Soho, central London, on Saturday.

The Don’t Call Me Up singer let her hair down after months spent working on her second studio album, which is expected later this year.

It has been 15 months since her last solo single, Boyfriend, was released, but her next tune looks to be weeks away.

She recently spent time in Los Angeles writing music and has been in the studio in London with her singer-songwriter pal Raye.

With some of the best names in pop helping her out on the record, I’m hoping for some upbeat floorfillers from her this summer.

Cody lifts lid on Miley ‘phase’

Cody Simpson has described his relationship with Miley Cyrus as “one of those phases”.

Speaking for the first time about their ten-month romance which ended last August, the Aussie swimmer told TV in his home country: “I’d known her for a long time.

We went from being good friends to having a lot of the same friends, to being together for a while.

“Everything ended fairly amicably, and it was just one of those phases, I guess.

“You go through it and you learn a lot from it.”

Diet is so egg-streme

JONAS Blue may leave a whiff in the DJ booth when he returns to the party circuit next month.

The hit producer and fitness fan has told how he is scoffing ten eggs a day to get as much muscle-building protein as possible.

Jonas, who has just released his single Hear Me Say with Leon, told me: “I have a very strict diet because before my career took off I wanted to be a fitness model.

“I eat about ten eggs a day, eight for breakfast.”

Looking forward to restrictions possibly ending in England on June 21, he added: “In our lifetime, I don’t think we will have ever seen anything that will compare to those parties.

“The vibe and euphoria will be on another level.”

LIZZO'S WONDERS

THERE was no wiping the grin off Lizzo’s face as she hit the town in this bra top – after revealing exercise has stopped her feeling down in the dumps.

The Truth Hurts singer, pictured at sushi restaurant Catch in LA, said on Instagram: “Working out, I realised, is more for my mental health.

"When I wasn’t working out I was getting so sad and crying.

"I was like, ‘Why am I crying? What’s wrong with me?’

“Then I realised, after two weeks of working out, that I don’t have those emotional outbursts any more, I think I let it all out when I sweat.”

Judging by how happy she looks here, it’s working wonders.

Zara: My visit gave gran Covid

ZARA Larsson has admitted her guilt at giving Covid to her grandma – who thankfully experienced no problems.

The Swedish singer told the Private Parts podcast: “I hadn’t seen her for the year.

"It was her birthday on December 27 so we were like, ‘F*** it, we’re going to see her’, because she’s 88 and she had been by herself the whole year.

“Then on the way back I was like, ‘I feel a little sick’.

“We gave grandma corona. We were super worried. But she was fine and didn’t get sick at all.

“She’s still alive and thriving. I felt really guilty, though.”

DISNEY IN DOGHOUSE

DISNEY film Cruella could encourage “undercover breeding” of dogs and lead to an “epidemic” of mutts being bought from illegal puppy farmers then abandoned, animal welfare charities fear.

The movie – a prequel to 101 Dalmatians – starring Emma Stone features terrier and Chihuahua sidekicks for the iconic villain, as well as the spotty favourites.

All Dogs Matter founder Ira Moss said: “It’s pushing sales of these dogs just because of their aesthetics. It’s encouraging undercover breeding.

"You’re creating a dog that doesn’t need to be there, just because it’s in fashion.”

Dogs Trust’s Adam Clowes added: “Illegal puppy dealers quickly adapt their practices to make a quick buck, so we hope that a film such as Cruella doesn’t result in a surge in demand for – and therefore the supply of – puppies.”

These organisations do great work.

But with Cruella banned from smoking and stripped of killer instincts in this woke retread, haven’t we already neutered this iconic villain enough?