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It was no snub ... Robbie will never be happy
Last updated at 12:35pm on 15.02.07
Gary Barlow with Jason Orange at the Brits
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Take That singer Gary Barlow claims his former bandmate Robbie Williams will never be happy.
The band members said they wished the troubled singer a speedy recovery - despite being accused of snubbing him when they failed to mention him during an acceptance speech at the Brits last night.
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Speaking about Robbie's visit to the popular celeb rehab clinic, The Meadows, father-of-two Barlow revealed that Robbie, who turned 33 two days ago, won't ever find the contentedness he is looking for.
He said: "There are some people who will never be happy and I fear that Robbie will be one of them. We haven't heard from him in ages, but the boys and I hope that he is okay."
Manc Robbie left his millions of fans in shock when he forked out what is believed to be £30,000 for a 30-day treatment in a bid to beat his addiction to prescribed sleeping pills and the anti-depressant, Seroxat.
But he will be most disappointed to learn his refusal to join Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange and Mark Owen for a reunion has also left a gap in his career.
Last night the four-piece picked up the gong for Best Single with their comeback tune, Patience.
And the boys weren't shy about celebrating - downing a cocktail of champagne and vodka at Knightsbridge posh eaterie Mocoto.
While Gaz was there with his wife Dawn, and Mark was with his partner, Jason - who, incidentally, was chaperoned by his father - spent the latter part of the evening with former Misteeq beauty Alesha Dixon. Our onlooker at the top bash revealed: "Jason was enticed with her, he was flirting like mad as he had heard that she was a single girl.
"She seemed pretty interested too. They were chatting for ages and were overheard trying to see when they would see one another again."
Having ignored his father for many years, Jason last night vowed that he loved him when picking up Take That's award on stage, before going out on a bender with him.
And Gary's night was also given a boost when he agreed with fellow winner James Morrison to write him some hits.
Reader views (2)
I agree with Chris from Brixton. The evening and the award were for Take That and had absolutely NOTHING to do with Robbie Williams. I can only assume the alleged 'snub' makes good copy and sells newspapers. Take That have made it back to the top WITHOUT Robbie. He walked out on the band years ago because he thought he was something 'special'. I dare say he never gave them a moment's thought other than to slag them off. He made his bed, now he's got to lie in it.
- Paul Wilson, London, UK
Call me picky, but I'm not 100% clear why they ought to have mentioned Robbie or thanked him or whatever is being implied here. He walked out on Take That at the height of their success, thereby precipitating the band's decline and - essentially - ruining the other four members' subsequent careers for a decade.
He then spent years slagging them (especially Gary) off at every available opportunity, even when he had achieved a monumental level of success while the others disappeared into obscurity. Through all the pokes and jibes, Gary and the boys maintained a dignified silence. And now they have found new success with absolutely no help from Robbie. What did he contribute to making "Patience" the Best Single of 2006?! All he did possibly was prevent it being the Best Single of 1997...
- Chris, Brixton, England
