A Brand-New Band Of Brothers

As Let It Shine heads towards the final live shows, why does Gary Barlow’s search for his boy band mean so much?

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Out front on the judges’ panel, there’s Gary Barlow, all sleek suit, immaculate hair and welcoming smile. While, behind him, backstage, Take That bandmates Mark Owen and Howard Donald, who’s wearing a silly hat, are bouncing around the white lipped contestants, making jokes and soothing tension with kindly words of wisdom. Because, right from the start, Gary, 46, was adamant that Let It Shine should be a talent show with heart. ‘Like theatre auditions,’ he says. ‘Everyone thinks that theatre auditions are cut-throat, but they’re not. They’re really kind. They say, ‘Hello to you, thank you for coming and goodbye when you leave.’’

Yet, despite the laid-back charm and the fun, when the performances begin, Gary’s eyes sharpen, steely concentration descends and he’s visibly assessing each act with razor-keen shrewdness.

Even Mark and Howard’s bonhomie, natural though it is, has an extra dimension. ‘Mark and Howard are our spies backstage,’ says Gary, ‘Chatting with the boys, seeing what they’re like.’

For, beneath the glamour and the glitz, this is serious. Deadly serious. The successful five will win roles as boy-band members in Gary’s new stage musical, The Band, featuring Take That hits, and Gary’s determined the show will be a winner. So are Mark and Howard: ‘It’s their back catalogue, too,’ says Gary.

What you have to remember about Gary is that if you could open him up, he’d probably have the word ‘professional’ written right through him like the letters through a stick of rock. He’s been a pro since the age of 13 when he secured his first job playing the organ every Saturday night at the Connah’s Quay Labour Club, in North Wales, for £18 a week – an impressive wage for a schoolboy in the 1980s.