The Graham Norton Show returns to BBC One for its 30th (we can't believe it either!) series on Friday, September 30. The Irish presenter is joined by a star-studded lineup for the first show back including David Tennant, Jamie Lee Curtis, Lydia West and Eric Idle. Naturally, there will also be a musical guest and there to fill that role in week one is Robbie Williams.
With a career that began in the 1990s, Robbie has lived most of his life in the intense glare of the media and showbiz spotlight. Starting out as a member of Take That before sensationally quitting the band to pursue a solo career, the 48-year-old singer is one of the UK's most successful artists of all time and has sold over 75 million records worldwide.
His path to success has not been without trouble, though, and Robbie has been candid about his mental health issues and honest about the long and seemingly healthy marriage and four children. You can get more celebrity news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
Read more: 'I used to talk to dead people' - Robbie Williams sensational revelation about hit single
When did Robbie leave Take That and why?
In 1990, a 16-year-old Robbie Williams' life changed forever when he joined forces with Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Jason Orange to form Take That. Robbie, the youngest member of the band, was pushed towards the group by his mother, who had read an advertisement seeking members for a new boy band.
Take That was formed by Manchester-based band manager, Nigel Martin-Smith. During Take That's early years, Nigel clashed with Robbie because the young singer notoriously used alcohol and cocaine. Robbie's drug abuse would eventually contribute towards his exit from the group, as he clashed with other band members.
In 1995, during one of the last rehearsals before an upcoming tour commenced, Gary Barlow, Jason Orange and manager Nigel Martin-Smith confronted Robbie about his attitude in the group and stated they wanted to do the tour without him. He agreed to quit and left the group in July 1995 and it would be the last time for twelve years that the band were all together. A year later, Take That disbanded. Luckily for fans, they eventually got back together in 2005 and Robbie even returned to the group in 2006 for a new album , Progress.
What have been Robbie Williams' mental health battles?
Over the years, Robbie has been candid about his mental health struggles. Alongside a battle with substance abuse, he has suffered with depression, his weight, self-esteem issues and alcoholism throughout his life. Speaking to The Sun, he said in 2018: "Fortunately and unfortunately, left to my own devices, I’m inclined to sabotage everything. I’ve got a disease that wants to kill me and it’s in my head, so I have to guard against that. Sometimes it overwhelms me and sometimes it’s a tool I need to get on stage. Sometimes I live in bliss and it’s wonderful."
In an interview on The Jonathan Ross Show in 2016, Robbie revealed that it was Sir Elton John who had helped him take his first step towards sobriety. He said: “He really tried to help. In the early days when I was first getting sober, there was a week until I had to go to rehab and I had two vocals to do on my first album.” But, when Robbie showed up at Elton's house covered in wine stains and "smelling like a pub", the legendary singer helped him get into rehab immediately.
Who is Robbie Williams married to?
In May 2006, Robbie began a relationship with American actress Ayda Field after she featured in a UFO documentary that he did for BBC Radio 4. The couple married in 2010 and have four children together - daughters Theodora and Colette and sons Charlton and Beau. In a recent interview, Robbie praised Ayda for letting him be “consumed” by work and said that as long as he isn’t turning to “mood-altering substances”, she is happy for him to stay busy with “whatever I’m addicted to at the time”.
He is currently working on a new clothing line called Hopeium. Williams said: “It’s the lesser of two evils if I’m still awake at half five in the morning with some Biros and some Sharpies, giggling at myself from something I’ve just written.”
Williams also opened up about the difficulties of being on the move constantly with his family, describing family life as a “moving caravan that is constantly in a state of flux, has no base and doesn’t know where it’s supposed to go”. He said: “I used to get flustered and [panicked] about it, but it’s just how we live. Having four kids makes things complicated when their daddy does work everywhere else but their base, which is California.”
Catch Robbie on The Graham Norton Show on BBC One at 10.40pm on Friday, September 30.
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