Take That approached to open the prestigious 2012 Olympic opening ceremony

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.

Read more: Mirror

Take That: Robbie Williams de volta

O músico britânico Robbie Williams prepara-se para regressar aos Take That, boys band com a qual vai gravar um álbum e fazer uma digressão depois de a ter abandonado em 1995, informa o jornal The Sun.

“In and Out of Consciousness: The Greatest Hits 1990 – 2010” é o nome da próxima colectânea que Robbie vai editar a solo, com data marcada para Setembro; depois, acrescenta a fonte, reunir-se-á com os antigos colegas para trabalhar um álbum que deverá ver a luz do dia no natal. A digressão terá lugar em 2011.

Para já, sabe-se que o novo disco dos Take That vai incluir o single ‘Shame’, co-produzido entre Roobie Williams e o líder Gary Barlow e que retrata a relação amor-ódio entre ambos.

No vídeo de promoção do single, Robbie e Gary parodiam a relação homossexual entre dois cowboys que trespassa o guião do filme Brokeback Mountain.

Jornal Destak

O novo disco dos Take That, com Robbie Williams de regresso à boys band, vai ser lançado em Novembro. Os cinco elementos reuniram-se em Nova Iorque para acabar com 15 anos de separação.

- Fico embaraçosamente entusiasmado quando nós os cinco nos juntamos numa sala. É como regressar a casa, comentou Robbie Williams.

O grupo estava para se reunir há muito, mas Robbie Williams nunca se juntou ao plano. Agora, o reencontro está concretizado. Mas como eram eles na década de 90? Ainda se lembra?

MSN

Mark Owen looks happier than ever after Take That announcement... while Wembley and O2 battle to host £50m tour

Mark Owen stepped out today looking happier than ever following the announcement that Robbie Williams would be rejoining former band Take That.

The 38-year-old singer, who wore a summery blue striped cardigan with jeans and boots, looked excited as he waved to fans in Clapham, south London.

Last night, Robbie confirmed he would be making Take That a quintet once again as he rejoins the group for a £50million album and tour next summer.

Happy and excited: Mark Owen looked thrilled as he stepped out in Clapham today following the announcement that Robbie Williams would be rejoining Take That

Summery: Mark looked seasonal in his stripey cardigan and light blue jeans

And it seems excitement about the reunion is spreading, with both Wembley Stadium and the O2 Arena locked in a £15million battle to host the upcoming tour.

While the O2 is the venue du jour, it can only hold 23,000 people, while Wembley can pack in 100,000 fans.

Promoters SJM are said to be in talks with both venues about which should host the 54-date tour - expected to sell out in minutes when tickets go on sale later this year.

Back for good: Robbie (far right) with (left to right) Jason Orange, Howard Donald, Mark and Gary Barlow as they prepare for their new album and tour

Robbie's return to the band is thought to initially be for a year, with the possibility of extending that following the tour.

However, the reunion of Robbie with Mark, Gary Barlow, Jason Orange and Howard Donald is expected to send Take That's popularity skyrocketing.

And William Hill bookmakers have already opening up betting on whether Take That will get the Christmas number one this year, with odds of 3/1.

William Hill spokesperson Joe Crilly said: 'Having Robbie back is surely only good news for the band and their fans and the odds definitely suggest that his return will have a positive impact on record sales.'

Quartet: Take That as they were during their 2006 reunion tour

Following the announcement last night, Robbie said: 'I get embarrassingly

excited when the five of us are in a room. It feels like coming home.'

And Mark, who was Robbie's best friend in the band, added: 'Getting the five of us to be in a room together, although always a dream, never actually seemed like becoming a reality.

'Now the reality of the five of us making a record together feels like a dream.'

Read more: Daily Mail

Take That: From boyband to manband

Teenage girls screamed to hit after hit including Back For Good, Pray and A Million Love Songs.

The band had eight number one hits and sold 10 million albums during the 1990s.

But tensions began to show between Barlow, seen as the serious songwriter of the group, and Williams.

Williams walked out in 1995.

The band broke up in February 1996 and fans were so distraught that the Samaritans set up a special helpline.

They reformed a decade later without Williams, after appearing in a tell-all ITV documentary watched by nearly six million viewers.

Barlow confirmed the news with the words: "Thank you very much for giving us the last 10 years off, but unfortunately the rumours are true - Take That are going back on tour."

Take That's comeback anthem Patience went straight to number one and won a Brit Award for best British single.

The band have continued their success and saw their 2009 stadium tour The Circus - Live smashing UK box office records.

Asked about the possibility of rejoining Take That, Williams told GQ previously: "It will happen. But not in the next 18 months, two years.

"There's contracts to fulfil. And then I can do what I want."

Williams has also spoken of a "healing" chat he had with Take That in 2008 while the band were mixing The Circus in Los Angeles.

For his part, Barlow has said it was "inevitable" that Williams would perform with the group again.

Williams was reunited with the band by sharing a stage during a Children In Need concert last year.

The singer has already revealed he is releasing a single, Shame, with Barlow, the first time they have recorded together for 15 years.

Back for good, Robbie? Take two as Williams rejoins Take That for £50million album and tour

Together again: Jason Orange, Howard Donald, Mark Owen, Gary Barlow and Robbie Williams yesterday

It's taken more than a little patience from Take That's army of female fans.

But last night, 15 years after he quit the band for solo superstardom, it was confirmed that Robbie Williams has rejoined the group after finally healing the rift with the other members.

The singer left millions of teenage girls in tears by walking out on the chart-topping group at the height of their fame in 1995.

A statement from the band last night said: 'The rumours are true... Take That: the original line-up, have written and recorded a new album for release later this year.'

The record, as yet untitled, will be released in November.

It is then expected Williams will join his bandmates - Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange and Mark Owen - for a huge stadium tour next summer.

His return is initially said to be for one year.

The band members could each earn £10million from the reunion.

Last night Williams said: 'I get embarrassingly excited when the five of us are in a room. It feels like coming home.'

Owen, who was Williams' best friend in the band, added: 'Getting the five of us to be in a room together, although always a dream, never actually seemed like becoming a reality.

'Now the reality of the five of us making a record together feels like a dream.'

Jason Orange said: 'Flippin' brilliant, absolutely brilliant. Life is beautifully strange sometimes.'

The five stars met in New York last September, in the aftermath of Owen's stag party.

Shortly afterwards all of the band secretly wrote and recorded the six songs which set the foundation for the forthcoming album.

Between them, Take That and Williams have sold more than 80million albums, notching up 13 No. 1 albums and 17 No. 1 singles.

Their new album will be released exactly 20 years since the band first sang live on TV in 1990.

The end came in 1995 after a fallout over Williams' drug-taking and a conflict with Barlow over musical direction.

Williams' became Britain's biggest solo star, scoring huge hits with Angels and Rock DJ.

But when Take That - who themselves split in 1996 a year after Williams left - reformed in 2005, the quartet topped the charts again, while Williams' career floundered.

There was a thawing in relations and last November he joined his former bandmates on-stage at the Children In Need concert at the Royal Albert Hall.

Daily Mail

This could be magic

ROBBIE WILLIAMS rekindling the old TAKE THAT magic for one last album and tour will surely go down as one of the worst kept secrets in the history of music.

It was always going to happen. It was just a matter of when.

They say time is a great healer and 15 years has done the trick for Robbie and GARY BARLOW.

And thank the lord for some good news after such a bleak few weeks of murder and misery dominating the headlines.

This reunion is HUGE. It doesn't get any bigger.

The tour will break records on pre-sales, as will the album. Then there'll be the sponsorship, the TV rights, a DVD, merchandising, royalties and publishing.

If you thought the boys were rich now, next Christmas is going to see them served up with a whole new level of wealth.

The only problem I can see is Robbie's crippling stage fright and his hatred of being on the road.

Still at least he will have the four best friends he has ever had standing shoulder to shoulder beside him.

However, here's the real question on the lips of all TT fans: Is Robbie back for good?

The answer to that is a simple "No". The Take That story needed a final chapter and this is it - one last album, one last tour and then it will be time to call it a day.

Why take the gloss off one of the most romantic pop stories in British music history?

This is the happy ending.

I just hope the old cracks don't reappear when they are living in each other's pockets on tour again.

Read more: The Sun

"It feels like coming home." Robbie Williams

Back For Good ... (from left) Jason Orange, 40; Howard Donald, 42; Mark Owen, 38; Gary Barlow, 39; Robbie Williams, 36

SUPERSTAR ROBBIE WILLIAMS told last night of his joy at rejoining TAKE THAT - saying: "It feels like coming home."

The pop sensations finally confirmed they are a five-piece again and revealed they are recording a new album as well as planning a huge stadium tour.

Working together again is expected to earn Take That a massive £15million EACH.

Robbie, 36, devastated the band by quitting in 1995.

But now the bitterness is history and thrilled Robbie admitted yesterday: "I get embarrassingly excited when the five of us are in a room."

The album, due out in November, will be the first by Robbie, GARY BARLOW, 39, MARK OWEN, 38, HOWARD DONALD, 42, and JASON ORANGE, 40, since their 1995 No1 Nobody Else.

And The Sun can reveal the band will reach out to a world record THREE MILLION people on their epic 54-date stadium tour next summer.

We told on Monday how they were planning a big announcement about new material this week. And yesterday's official album confirmation sent an army of fans into meltdown.

Mark said: "Getting the five of us in a room together, although always a dream, never actually seemed like becoming a reality. Now the reality of the five of us making a record together feels like a dream."

He joked: "It's been an absolute delight spending time with Rob again - but I'm still a better footballer."

Even Jason - who was critical of Robbie when he failed to take part in a Take That ITV documentary after the other four reunited in 2005 - has given his blessing.

He said: "Flippin' brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

"I'm over the moon that Robbie's back with us, however long it lasts. I just want to enjoy our time with him. Life is beautifully strange sometimes."

Take That and promoters SJM, run by the band's close pal Simon Moran, have developed an ambitious tour masterplan, involving the biggest stadiums in the country.

They will play a string of nights in each venue, including Wembley, the City Of Manchester Stadium, Murrayfield and the Millennium Stadium.

There are no plans beyond this tour and album.

Take That's last tour, The Circus Live, sold out in minutes - and despite adding extra dates, some fans still could not get a ticket.

A source said: "Robbie has some commitments with Live Nation and a couple of appearances with Gary for the new single lined up.

"But after that, Take That's creative tour team will be working on the biggest show they have ever put on.

"Kim Gavin, who has worked with Take That on all their spectacular tours, is already briefed and ready to start coming up with amazing ideas."

The first batch of six songs from the new, as-yet untitled album, were recorded last September in New York. The boys used the cover of Mark's stag do as an excuse for secret studio sessions.

Last night a music industry expert explained how reformed Take That are set for a mega payday.

The band will trouser £5million each from record sales, royalties, TV rights and endorsements - plus another £10million from their tour.

He said: "One sold-out stadium will gross £2million for the band. Costs will swallow £1million per show, but after fifty dates the lads will be left with at least £50million."

In the studio ... Take That will have new album out soon

Robbie could not wait to get involved with his old pals again after he was swept up in the excitement of their sell-out Circus Live tour.

He told The Sun last October: "The Take That tour was fantastic. The show was amazing. I did fancy being part of it. That's a band I want to be in. Their last album was really good. They all chip in. I love it all."

A Take That source added: "The only regret Gary had about the Circus Live Tour was that they didn't do enough dates.

"There was only a small window during the summer, when all the stadia were free between football seasons. It was a massive box office hit and Robbie was full of praise for it.

"It was part of the reason he couldn't wait to get back together with the band. He wanted to be on stage with them properly again."

Earlier this year Robbie briefly joined the full line-up on stage at the Royal Albert Hall gig organised by Gary for Children In Need.

Mates again ... Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow

It whetted the appetite of fans and sparked frenzied speculation about Robbie rejoining full-time.

The gig was also another step on a long road to reconciliation for Gary and Robbie, after years of bad blood between the pair.

Robbie recently announced plans to release his Greatest Hits album, with a track co-written with his old foe.

The Sun revealed earlier this week that the video for the song Shame has a Brokeback Mountain theme.

It pokes fun at the close relationship the pair had rekindled.

A source said: "Gary and Robbie have been inseparable recently.

"They have been in LA together working in the studio on Robbie's new stuff, as well as all the new Take That material. It has been a hugely cathartic process for both of them as they rebuild their old friendship.

"There really couldn't be a better mood in the camp at the moment."

Producer STUART PRICE, who has worked with MADONNA and KYLIE MINOGUE, has taken control of the sessions. And the band have come up with their first new songs.

Mark, who confessed in The Sun to ten affairs earlier this year, has also recovered from alcohol addiction and pieced his private life back together with the help of bandmates.

Take That and Robbie have an incredible track record.

Between them they have sold more than 80million albums, played to more than 14.5million people live, won 19 Brit Awards and had 13 No1 albums, 17 No1 singles, eight MTV awards and five Ivor Novello awards.

The new album comes 20 years since they first sang live on the TV show The Hitman & Her in 1990.

Read more: The Sun

the rumours are true...

Take That: the original line-up have written and recorded a new album for release later this year.

Following months of speculation Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams confirmed today that they have been recording a new studio album as a five piece, which they will release in November of this year. It is the first time they've recorded a full album together since the release of their number one album 'Nobody Else', back in 1995.

'Getting the five of us to be in a room together, although always a dream, never actually seemed like becoming a reality. Now the reality of the five of us making a record together feels like a dream. It's been an absolute delight spending time with Rob again. But I'm still a better footballer' - Mark Owen.
'I get embarrassingly excited when the five of us are in a room. It feels like coming home' - Robbie Williams.
'Flippin' brilliant, absolutely brilliant. I'm over the moon that Robbie's back with us, however long it lasts. I just want to enjoy our time with him. Life is beautifully strange sometimes' - Jason Orange.

The reunion of reunions took place in New York last September, following Take That's record-breaking 'The Circus Live' tour. Shortly afterwards all five of the original Take That secretly wrote and recorded the six songs which would set the foundation for the forthcoming album.

Since then the band have been hard at work finishing their new, as yet untitled, record, which will be released through Polydor Records in November. The album has been produced by Stuart Price.

Comunicado oficial no site!