Gary Barlow has debuted a clean-shaven look in London this week, looking unrecognisable without the beard he has sported for over a decade. The Take That star, 55, was seen in Notting Hill dressed head to toe in black and wearing a baseball cap as he met wine expert and influencer Tom Gilbey for a glass of rosé.
New Look After Circus Tour
The sighting comes weeks after the band wrapped up its Circus stadium tour, which saw Take That perform to more than 700,000 people. Barlow recently told fans he wanted to keep "active and keep fit post-tour," but also posted an emotional statement on social media saying he could not see himself performing in something as physically demanding as The Circus Tour again.
The latest dates were a homage to the band's much-loved 2009 concerts, with nightly stunts, acrobatics and dance routines. Following the final curtain call, Barlow shared a statement with fans explaining that "with an extremely heavy heart" the tour would not return, despite calling it Take That's greatest ever tour.
Emotional Message to Fans
Writing on X, Barlow said: "And another tour comes to a close. Somehow, this one feels a little different. With the other tours, it’s always comforting to know there will almost definitely be a next time. But I’m pretty sure this tour won’t return."
He added: "I was 38 when we originally did this show, and I have to say it’s been a whole other challenge doing it as a 55-year-old. I just can’t see a way I could physically do this show again. So, it’s with an extremely heavy heart that I leave The Circus in my past. I got to run away with The Circus twice. Now I’m running towards our next exciting, brand new show."
The previous day he posted: "Best tour ever - to say that 35 years into our career is saying something."
Band History and New Look
The original Take That line-up, including Jason Orange, Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Robbie Williams, was founded in Manchester in 1990. Robbie left the band to go solo, while Jason has retreated from the spotlight in recent years, no longer wanting to commit to the constant cycle of recording, touring and promoting albums.
This year, Howard, Mark and Gary announced they would recreate The Circus tour as a trio, hitting the road with dancers, trapeze artists, clowns, tightrope walkers and roller skaters. After enjoying some downtime following the dates wrapping in the summer, Barlow appears to be enjoying his new incognito look, looking almost unrecognisable without his famous facial hair.
While he was clean-shaven during the early days of his career alongside Robbie Williams, Mark Owen, Jason Orange and Howard Donald, he opted for a beard around the time he began serving as a judge on The X Factor and headed up a reunion with the band.
