In a startling revelation, Take That's Howard Donald has admitted to feeling intense "hatred" towards former bandmate Robbie Williams in a new Netflix documentary series. The three-part show, titled Take That, promises an intimate look at the record-breaking British boyband's turbulent history.
Raw Emotions and Rivalry Exposed
The documentary features candid interviews with current members Howard Donald, Gary Barlow, and Mark Owen. They delve into the painful period following Robbie Williams's departure from the group in 1995 and his subsequent meteoric solo success. Donald, 57, spoke openly about his negative feelings towards Williams, which were fuelled by loyalty to Gary Barlow.
"I just didn't like what Robbie had become," Donald states in the series. "It was quite hurtful because Gary was my mate and I was obviously going to stick up for Gary. I just felt a lot of hatred towards Robbie." He attributed part of this animosity to jealousy, admitting, "Maybe jealousy of his success, and the fact he was taking the p*** and getting more and more successful, it made it even worse."
The Shadow of 'Angels' and Solo Struggles
The series highlights the stark contrast in solo fortunes. While Robbie Williams's career soared with his 1997 single Angels, Gary Barlow's own solo efforts struggled to gain traction. Barlow, 54, recalls the moment he realised Williams was "untouchable." He said, "I remember being sat there thinking, 'Well, that's it. I can't catch that.'"
Barlow described embarking on a nine-month radio tour in America in an attempt to match that success, only for it to "dawn on me nothing is happening here." He confessed, "I was incredibly competitive so yeah, I think I was jealous, yeah." Fellow member Mark Owen, 53, added that he saw Barlow as "a casualty of Robbie's success."
A Definitive Story of Rise, Fall and Comeback
The Netflix documentary charts the band's entire journey, from their formation in Manchester in 1990 to their sensational comeback a decade after splitting. Take That originally dominated the charts with 12 UK number one singles and sold over 45 million records worldwide before crumbling after Williams's exit in 1995 and disbanding in 1996.
Robbie Williams, now 51, found unparalleled solo success. His album Life thru a Lens and the iconic track Angels propelled him to superstardom, with the album spending 40 weeks in the UK Top 10. His story was even turned into a 2024 musical biopic titled Better Man.
The new series, billed as "the deeply personal and definitive story of Take That," uses never-before-seen archive footage spanning 35 years. Take That will be available to stream on Netflix from January 27, 2026.
