Relight my ire

Documentary reveals highs and lows of Take That

- BY MARK JEFFERIES [e-mail]

Gary, Mark and Howard last year

HEY were the biggest boyband of a generation but despite their staggering success and the adulation of their hordes of fans, life in Take That was not a bed of roses.

A three-part Netflix documentary is set to lift the lid on the highs and lows of the revered pop quintet of Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Howard Donald, Jason Orange and Robbie Williams.

It will feature 35 years of rare archives and never-before-seen footage along with personal material and fresh interviews with the remaining TT trio of Gary, Howard and Mark.

But Gary admitted: “Some of it was hard to watch, especially that middle hour, which covers the period after the band broke up.

“It was just a hard, hard time. I am quite good at leaving things in the past. I'm not a regretful person, and I was happy to leave it behind. So, seeing those memories brought to life on screen again was strange.”

ROBBIE QUITS THE BAND

The documentary begins with the band working hard to gain success with Gary's songwriting and nonstop gigs, sometimes three a day.

By 1992, it eventually pays off and a cover version of Tavares 1975 hit It Only Takes A Minute goes into the charts at number 16 and they get a Top of The Pops appearance and are now mobbed everywhere they go.

But as things went on, Robbie became frustrated at his lack of creative input and the once carefree group now being big business.

He quit the band in July 1995 after his infamous trip to Glastonbury.

Mark recalls: "Rob came back and he was absolutely wasted, and he went upstairs and had a bit of a kip. I think, I think the lack of interest was obvious, and I think that Gaz and Jay got pretty p***ed off about that.”