Less than 24 hours after announcing their reunion, Take That have been approached to perform at the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony.
The lads would play to a TV audience of about four billion people.
It would net the band – Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Howard Donald, Robbie Williams and Jason Orange – £2.5million as well as further sponsorship deals.
An informal approach is understood to have been made by the Olympic committee three months ago – before the band officially announced the comeback.
The Games’ artistic directors, Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle and theatre producer Stephen Daldry, are believed to be behind the approach.
They are keen to take advantage of the band’s widespread appeal.
But it is understood that a contract would only be signed after Robbie, 36, pledges his future to the band and following the release of the group’s new single and album in November.
A source said: “When rumours surfaced about a possible reunion, the committee immediately added Take That to the long list of possible performers.
“Since Danny and Stephen came on board, this list has been shortened and informal discussions held with the group’s management.
“At present, Robbie is only on board for a year, but that’s to reduce the pressure on the group. The belief is that this will be a permanent move and he will therefore be available for 2012.
“It is a huge honour for the boys and will see them playing to a phenomenally big audience. Everyone is confident they are up to the challenge.”
If the group get the deal, it would be the biggest coup in their 20-year history.The budget for the opening ceremony at the Games is £40million.
There will be a host of spectacular pyrotechnics and aerial acrobatics as well as massive names from the pop world.
The Spice Girls, Paul McCartney, Leona Lewis and The Rolling Stones are among those who are also thought to be in with a shout of appearing at the event.
Several surprise acts are also expected to be announced and the ceremony at the Olympic Park in Stratford, East London, is likely to attract a bigger TV audience than the showpiece at the 2008 Beijing Games watched by almost four billion.
Take That’s fans were already celebrating yesterday after news broke that Robbie was rejoining the band and taking part in a 50-date tour next year.
The group’s official website went into meltdown – receiving 48,000 hits in an hour – and the comeback single is expected to be the most pre-ordered download track in chart history.
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