Gary Barlow has offered a rare and deeply personal glimpse into his private life, including a traumatic period of weight gain, in Take That's new documentary series on Netflix. The programme, titled simply 'Take That', launched on the streaming platform today, featuring unprecedented revelations from the famously private singer.
Unseen Photos and Candid Confessions
The 55-year-old music icon, alongside bandmates Mark Owen and Howard Donald, lifts the lid on the band's extraordinary journey in the warts-and-all series. Barlow shares a surprising collection of never-before-seen photographs, providing fans with an intimate look at his family life and personal struggles.
A Struggle with Weight and Identity
Among the most poignant revelations are those concerning Barlow's physical transformation following Take That's initial split in 1995. The singer admits he reached 17 stone during this difficult period, describing how he wanted to "crawl into a hole" as his appearance became unrecognisable from his pop star persona.
Barlow explains that his weight gain became a mechanism for seeking anonymity, a retreat from the public eye after years in the spotlight. "There was a period of about 13 months when I didn't leave the house once," he confesses in the documentary. "And I also started to put weight on."
Family as Foundation
The documentary contrasts these difficult memories with heartwarming family moments. Barlow shares numerous candid snaps, including images with his wife Dawn Andrews, whom he married in 2000 and credits with helping him regain his footing after the band's dissolution.
Adorable photographs show Barlow as a devoted father to his children Daniel, 24, Emily, 22, and Daisy, 15. One holiday picture captures him beaming with his parents, Colin and Marge, who nurtured his early musical talents. Another shows him relaxing by a pool with his young son, presenting a stark contrast to his nineties boyband image.
A New Chapter of Openness
This unprecedented openness marks a significant departure for Barlow, who has historically guarded his personal life fiercely. The documentary series promises to deliver the complete story of Take That's rise, fall, and remarkable resurgence, straight from the band members themselves.
For fans of the iconic Manchester group, the series offers not just a retrospective of their musical achievements, but a genuine insight into the human stories behind the stardom, with Barlow's honest account of his weight struggle forming a central, revealing narrative thread.
