Take That's Jason Orange Spotted in Cheshire After Netflix Documentary Release
Jason Orange maintained his characteristically low profile on Monday as he was spotted for the first time since the release of Take That's highly anticipated Netflix documentary. The 55-year-old singer, who notably did not appear in the new documentary, was seen wrapped in a black knee-length coat during a rare outing in Hale village, Cheshire.
A Quiet Life Away from the Spotlight
The former pop star completed his understated look with a pair of black trousers, matching boots, and sunglasses. Jason shot to fame in 1990 as part of Take That's original lineup alongside Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Robbie Williams, and Mark Owen. However, he left the successful band in 2014 to pursue a quieter life away from the public eye and has reportedly become increasingly reclusive in the years since.
While archive footage of Jason is featured in the Netflix documentary, he did not participate in any new interviews for the project. This sighting comes after reports in January from The Sun that the 90s icon has embarked on a new career path, becoming co-owner of property business Nine The Firs and partnering with Leicester City football legend Neil Lennon.
New Ventures and Professional Pursuits
A source revealed to the publication: 'Jason and Neil have known each other for a fair while and played in a charity football game together some years back. Neil has a firm and Jason has come on board. Jason prefers to live a quiet life out of the spotlight but has got a real flair for property.'
The source added that Jason has already immersed himself in the business, successfully selling a property to a customer who described him as 'lovely' and 'professional'. Jason originally quit Take That in 2014 after admitting he had wanted to leave the group for some time and had no desire to commit to recording and promoting new music.
Take That's Evolution Without Jason
With Robbie Williams having exited in 1995, Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, and Howard Donald continued as a successful trio. Take That first returned as a three-piece after a ten-year hiatus in 2006, but Jason was the only original member to completely avoid the music scene during that decade-long break, instead trying his hand at acting in various stage productions.
The star reportedly turned away from London's party circuit, opting for quieter evenings at low-key venues around his native Manchester. Take That performed for the first time in four years at King Charles III's Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle in May 2023, but Jason did not reunite with his former bandmates.
Bandmates Reflect on Jason's Departure
Mark Owen told The Times in June 2023: 'I think [Jason] felt like he didn't want to do it any more, but I'm not going to speak for him. He's still here anyway. The other day we were trying to work out who the best joke-teller in the band is and remembered how Jason always laughed before he got to the punchline.'
Frontman Gary Barlow previously stated to The Sun: 'Jason isn't coming back. Take That is Mark, Howard and me for the next few years.' In 2018, Howard Donald revealed that Jason had stopped responding to communications after going completely off-grid to live what he described as a 'normal life' in the countryside.
Howard told The Mirror: 'Jason has gone off the grid. He's not taking emails or phone calls or stuff like that. That's good for him. That's where he wants to be. I think he wants to be a million miles away from this at the moment.'
Speaking to Metro, Gary added: 'We hear from Jason now and again. Then when you reply the email doesn't work. It's bigger than we all know. Him cutting himself off from a life he just didn't want any more. If you were 20 you would open the discussion up, but he is a grown man. You have to respect the fact he doesn't want to do this. It was hard for us to watch him go.' Gary also acknowledged that Jason 'didn't want any creative involvement' and simply 'wanted to leave' the band that made him famous.
