Let me detain new

Robbie blames album delay on Taylor Swift because he wants a record 16th No.1

- BY TOM BRYANT

ROBBIE Williams has told how he delayed his new album to avoid a chart battle with Taylor Swift during a sweary rant at his smallest-ever gig.

The singer also glowingly praised his wife Ayda and daughter Teddy, and made light of his feud with Oasis, during the two-hour show.

Showing his beefed-up physique to the 600-strong crowd at Dingwalls, in Camden, North London, he declared: "I want to perform as Robert this evening... and it turns out Robert is in really good f****** shape."

Robbie, 51, then went on to admit that the decision to move the launch of his new album - Britpop - to February, came because he found out Taylor was releasing The Life of a Showgirl Chasing a record-breaking 16th No.1 album he felt it wise to wait for a clearer run at the top spot.

He said: "We had to make a decision because Taylor Swift... we are all pretending it's not about Taylor Swift but it is.

"Here's the truth, right. I want 16 No.1 albums. Taylor decided to put her album out the same week as me and I thought, 'for f***'s sake..."