Culture | Music

Robbie Williams at the O2 review: A heavyweight set of classic pop hits

Robbie Williams - XXV tour - London

Just over three decades into his musical career – and 25 years since going solo – there’s rarely been a better time to be Robbie Williams . Sober, happily settled and soon to be the subject of a Netflix docuseries as well as a cinematic biopic entitled Better Man, last month the 48-year-old singer scored his 14th UK number one album with reorchestrated greatest hits compilation XXV, smashing Elvis Presley ’s record.

The amount of blue sky between his current state of affairs and previous well-publicised drama is certainly not lost on Williams, who opened his UK and Ireland tour by vowing to honour his “32-year musical odyssey, from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows.”

He delivered on his promise too, supplying a heavyweight set strewn with now-classic pop singles, plus a running commentary that oscillated between the usual tongue-in-cheek silliness and glimpses of startling sincerity.

Emerging from behind three floating video screens in a sequin vest and burnished gold trousers, Williams was in irrepressible entertainer mode from the get-go, leading his seven-piece band and six-strong dance troupe through turbo-charged renditions of Hey Wow Yeah Yeah and Let Me Entertain You. “I’m f***ing knackered,” he deadpanned after the energetic opening run, before restarting Monsoon and jumping down to the barriers to take selfies with fans.

Robbie Williams - XXV tour - London

Six songs in, he paused to playfully narrate his own musical life story. Delivering an amusingly damning live critique of the video for Take That ’s debut single Do What You Like, he then launched into two rapturously-received verses of Everything Changes.

Reminiscences of time misspent with Oasis at Glastonbury 1995 preceded a convincing cover of Don’t Look Back in Anger, after which Williams revisited Take That’s latter-day successes with a stirring rendition of The Flood – his 2010 reunion single with the group.

Scattered amongst the usual self-lacerating patter were glimmers of genuine tenderness. The wistful balladry of Eternity was dedicated to former-Spice Girl Geri Horner for helping him through the early stages of sobriety. In the encore we were treated to a sublime reimagining of the ever-brilliant No Regrets, its brand new, Bond theme-inspired string arrangement packing a real punch emotionally.

Also dating well was Williams’ debut single-proper Old Before I Die. Though still Oasis-lite, it was life-affirming to hear a document of youthful bravado delivered by an artist we might once have legitimately worried wouldn’t make it to middle age. Thankfully Williams has travelled some distance in the intervening quarter of a century. As he put it himself, pre-Angels, “Turns out there’s a happy ending: life is good.”

O2, October 10; theO2.co.uk

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11 October 2022 11:34 AM

Robbie Williams live in London: national treasure guns for Glasto legends set

A two-hour run through fan favourites, peppered with some funny and revelatory anecdotes about those 25 years at the top, proves why one of the uk’s greatest entertainers deserves the ‘legends’ slot in 2023.

By Nick Reilly

Robbie Williams performs on the opening night of his XXV tour across UK and Ireland, which marks his 25 years as a solo artist, at The O2 Arena in London

There’s a frank and funny moment during the second night of Robbie Williams ’ UK tour, when the singer stops to recall how he threw off the shackles of Take That during his first and only appearance at Glastonbury in 1995.

“I set off with [a] boot full of champagne and a pocket full of cocaine, ready to get insane in the membrane and I went to Glastonbury to begin what I didn’t know was to be the start of my new life,” he quips of his now-notorious weekend partying with the Gallagher brothers.

27 years on, Williams’ life has dramatically changed. The once-tabloid mainstay and all round hell-raiser has been clean for over 15 years and eagerly tells the crowd how he’s a happily married family man at the peak of his physical fitness. What hasn’t changed, however, is the fact that his return to Worthy Farm is long overdue. Michael and Emily Eavis — here is a show that proves why one of the UK’s greatest entertainers deserves the ‘Legends’ slot in 2023.

It begins from the moment he emerges from behind his band in an Elvis pose, perhaps a knowing nod to how his remarkable UK chart statistics have largely left the King in the dust. He swaggers to greet the crowd in a gold glitter waistcoat and spiked mullet, displaying the kind of ridiculous showmanship that would bring Glastonbury back to life after a weekend of excess.

This latest tour is in support of his latest album XXV , which sees the singer looking back on 25 years of hits — which have been re-recorded and given an orchestral twist by the Metropole Orkest. It means that the set is a lean two-hour run through fan favourites, peppered with some funny and revelatory anecdotes about those 25 years at the top.

“In the 90s, I tried to love you all individually, and nearly got there too,” he jokes of his reputation at one point. It’s the kind of crowd-pleasing banter that belongs at a set that regularly attracts one of Glastonbury’s biggest attendances of the whole weekend. Elsewhere, a tender dedication to Geri Halliwell emerges on ‘Eternity’, as he hails her for helping him through the early stages of sobriety. He is also happy to take the piss out of himself at one early juncture, while providing live commentary on the video for early Take That hit ‘Everything Changes’.

It’s this storied career and Williams’ remarkable showmanship, unfettered after 25 years, that proves to be the night’s greatest strength. British pop icons of the last 25 years don’t come any bigger than him, a man who has lived a life of sex, drugs, rock and roll, and emerged relatively unscathed on the other side.

Before things draw to a close with ‘Angels’, he looks back to his own legendary gig at Knebworth 2003: “When I asked you to grow old with me at Knebworth you did, didn’t you?” If he can tackle Knebworth and now two nights at The O2, you sense that Worthy Farm should be no problem. Over to you, Glastonbury.

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Robbie Williams at the O2 review — finally at peace with himself

Robbie Williams seems to have made peace with his place in the pop pantheon

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★★★★☆ One of his biggest hits is called Let Me Entertain You , and Robbie Williams has never made a secret of his desire to be the greatest showman . The problem in the past has been when his ambitions have collided with reality, leading at worst to the spectacle of someone trying too hard to be liked while allowing his inner demons to take over. At the opening night of his UK arena tour, however, he was on fire.

Naturally, Let Me Entertain You began a show that was easy to enjoy for the obvious reasons: great singing, a small army of backing musicians, singers and dancers, familiar songs the entire crowd could sing along to, and the sight of Williams cavorting in gold

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Robbie Williams Setlist at The O2 Arena, London, England

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  • Hey Wow Yeah Yeah ( First time since 2013 ) Play Video
  • Let Me Entertain You Play Video
  • Land of 1000 Dances ( Chris Kenner  cover) Play Video
  • Monsoon Play Video
  • Strong Play Video
  • Come Undone Play Video
  • Song played from tape Interlude ( Do What You Like - Video )
  • Everything Changes ( Take That  song) Play Video
  • Don't Look Back in Anger ( Oasis  cover) Play Video
  • The Flood ( Take That  song) Play Video
  • Love My Life Play Video
  • Eternity Play Video
  • Lost Play Video
  • Old Before I Die Play Video
  • Supreme Play Video
  • Feel Play Video
  • Kids Play Video
  • Rock DJ Play Video
  • No Regrets Play Video
  • She's the One ( World Party  cover) Play Video
  • Angels Play Video
  • Strong / Candy / Tripping / Old Before I Die / Feel / Angels ( Robbie without the band, doing singalongs of each song's chorus with the crowd ) Play Video

Edits and Comments

15 activities (last edit by classicrockfan- , 20 Mar 2024, 22:17 Etc/UTC )

Songs on Albums

  • Don't Look Back in Anger by Oasis
  • Everything Changes by Take That
  • Land of 1000 Dances by Chris Kenner
  • She's the One by World Party
  • The Flood by Take That
  • Come Undone
  • Let Me Entertain You
  • Old Before I Die
  • Hey Wow Yeah Yeah
  • Love My Life
  • Strong / Candy / Tripping / Old Before I Die / Feel / Angels

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Ticket prices for Robbie Williams' London XXV O2 tour dates revealed

Pop icon Robbie Williams will be playing two gigs at the O2 Arena as part of XXV, his UK greatest hits tour. We've got everything you need to know about ticket pricing for the event before the pre-sale goes live on Wednesday.

  • 10:21, 14 JUN 2022

Robbie Williams has announced two dates at Glasgow's OVO Hydro later this year.

Robbie Williams has announced a greatest hits tour to celebrate 25 years as a solo performer and tickets for the show look set to be one of the hottest of the year.

The first information about ticket pricing for the O2 has been released by SeeTickets so fans can start to plan exactly where in the venue they're planning to sit, assuming of course they have met the Tuesday 3pm deadline to ensure they get pre-sale access when the first tickets go on sale on Wednesday. Find out what you need to do here .

The pre-sale is being handed by Ticketmaster who will put the first tickets on sale on Wednesday from 9am.

The former Take That star will be appearing at London's O2 on October 9 and 10.

According to SeeTickets , tickets for the O2 shows, depending on seat type and proximity to the stage, will be between £55 to £145 face value, although with fees these work out at between £63.25 and £162.25.

With fees, the cheapest option is £63.25 seats, going up to £85.25 (£75 face value) for standing, £107.25 (£95 face value) seats and £162.25 (£145) for the most expensive seats.

These prices may be subject to additional fees and charges but include a £2.75 venue fee charged directly by the O2.

Children under 14 have to accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over and no under 16-year-olds will be allowed in the standing areas.

Seats located in level four, which are the cheapest of the seated options, are not recommended by the O2 for anyone who has a fear of heights or suffers from vertigo.

A ticket limit of six per person and per credit or debit card applies, and the card holder must be present if collecting tickets from the O2 booking office.

Robbie Williams pre-sale tickets for the O2 will go on sale on Ticketmaster here on Wednesday, June 15. The pre-sale starts at 9 am and will last for 48 hours.

Robbie Williams general sale tickets will go on sale on Friday, June 17th at 9am, also on Ticketmaster .

The seating plan for Robbie Williams XXV tour dates at London's O2 Arena

The XXV tour will start in London with two nights The O2, before taking in Birmingham, two nights in Manchester, two nights in Glasgow and a single night in Dublin.

Full list of Robbie Williams XXV tour dates

9 October – The O2, London 10 October – The O2, London 15 October – Resorts World, Birmingham 19 October – AO Arena, Manchester 21 October – AO Arena, Manchester 24 October – OVO Hydro, Glasgow 25 October – OVO Hydro, Glasgow 29 October – 3Arena, Dublin

Tickets will be available from Ticketmaster from 9am on Wednesday, June 15 for the pre-sale and 9am on Friday, June 17 for general sale.

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Robbie Williams, 48, storms the stage in a sequinned vest and gold trousers as he kicks off his 25th anniversary XXV tour at London's O2 Arena

By Geraint Llewellyn For Mailonline

Published: 20:18 EDT, 9 October 2022 | Updated: 05:27 EDT, 10 October 2022

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Robbie Williams stormed the stage on the opening night of his 25th anniversary XXV tour at London's O2 arena in London on Sunday.

The singer, 48, donned a gold sequinned vest for the energetic performance which perfectly showcased his muscular and tattooed arms. 

Robbie returned to the stage two years after being forced to cancel his Las Vegas residency due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Back on stage: Robbie Williams, 48, stormed the stage on the opening night of his 25th anniversary XXV tour at London's O2 arena in London on Sunday

Back on stage: Robbie Williams, 48, stormed the stage on the opening night of his 25th anniversary XXV tour at London's O2 arena in London on Sunday

The former Take That star completed stage the look with metallic gold trousers and a string of beads.

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He accessorised with silver and diamond encrusted bracelets while styling his salt and pepper hair into spikes. 

Grasping the microphone passionately the star made the most of the vast stage as he entertained the sell-out audience. 

Pop's golden boy: The singer donned a gold sequinned vest for the energetic performance

Pop's golden boy: The singer donned a gold sequinned vest  by Dolce & Gabbana for the energetic performance which perfectly showcased his muscular and tattooed arms

Back for more: Robbie returned to the stage two years after being forced to cancel his Las Vegas residency due to Covid-19 restrictions

Back for more: Robbie returned to the stage two years after being forced to cancel his Las Vegas residency due to Covid-19 restrictions

Strutting his stuff: The former Take That star completed stage the look with metallic gold trousers and a string of beads

Strutting his stuff: The former Take That star completed stage the look with metallic gold trousers and a string of beads

The father-of-four struck his famous pose from his Let Me Entertain you video with one hand in the air as he was joined on stage by a slew of scantily clad dancers. 

He belted out a number of his classic hits with his image displayed on huge screens for the entire audience to see. 

Robbie will play a second night at the London venue on Monday before heading to Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Dublin. 

Show stopping: He accessorised with silver and diamond encrusted bracelets while styling his salt and pepper hair into spikes

Show stopping: He accessorised with silver and diamond encrusted bracelets while styling his salt and pepper hair into spikes

Saucy: The father-of-four struck his famous pose from his Let Me Entertain you video with one hand in the air as he was joined on stage by a slew of scantily clad dancers

Saucy: The father-of-four struck his famous pose from his Let Me Entertain you video with one hand in the air as he was joined on stage by a slew of scantily clad dancers

Singer: Grasping the microphone passionately the star made the most of the vast stage as he entertained the sell-out audience

Singer: Grasping the microphone passionately the star made the most of the vast stage as he entertained the sell-out audience

Big screen: He belted out a number of his classic hits with his image displayed on huge screens for the entire audience to see

Big screen: He belted out a number of his classic hits with his image displayed on huge screens for the entire audience to see

The tour celebrates the release of his latest orchestral album, XXV, to celebrate his 25th year in the business. 

He has recorded orchestral versions of his greatest hits with the Dutch jazz and pop orchestra, Metropole Orkest, to celebrate a quarter of a century since the release of his debut solo album, 1997's Life Thru A Lens.

The Rock DJ hitmaker posed naked on a statue for the album's striking artwork, which is an interpretation of The Thinker by French sculptor Auguste Rodin, with just his arms and legs covering his manhood.

Confidence: Robbie oozed confidence as he strutted his stuff on stage

Confidence: Robbie oozed confidence as he strutted his stuff on stage 

Muscleman: He flexed his muscles for the screaming audience

Muscleman: He flexed his muscles for the screaming audience  

Robbie said: 'I'm so excited to announce my new album XXV which celebrates many of my favourite songs from the past 25 years. Each track has a special place in my heart so it was a real thrill to record them again with the Metropole Orkest. Can't wait for you all to hear it.'

The career-spanning collection includes the hits Candy, Angels, Millennium and Let Me Entertain You.

It comes after the superstar recently admitted he listens to the charts in dismay.

Classic: He sung numerous hits including  Candy, Angels, Millennium and Let Me Entertain You

Classic: He sung numerous hits including  Candy, Angels, Millennium and Let Me Entertain You

The singer, who soared to fame in the Nineties, revealed he struggles with the lack of variety in modern music, noting all the artists 'look and sound the same.'

He explained: 'If you take Top Of The Pops from 1988, any week, the varying of colours, the eccentricities, the madness and the craziness is extraordinary.'

 Robbie, 48, continued: 'If you put on a chart show in 2022, every week, every artist sounds like every artist and they look like every artist.

'It's not their fault, I'm not having a go at them.'

At home: Robbie appeared at home as he returned to the stage following the Covid pandemic

At home: Robbie appeared at home as he returned to the stage following the Covid pandemic

Share or comment on this article: Robbie Williams, 48, storms the stage as he kicks off his 25th anniversary XXV tour at London's O2

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  • Date 25 Apr - 1 May 2024
  • Venue The O2 arena
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Event Details

Iconic British band Take That has announced 4 shows at The O2, taking place in April 2024 on Thursday 25, Friday 26, Saturday 27, Sunday 28 May, Tuesday 30 and Wednesday 1 May. 

Alongside the show announcements the band has also announced news of their ninth studio album This Life, set for release 24th November. To celebrate the news further, Take That have also unleashed their brand-new single Windows which is out now. They will be joined on the tour by very special guest, Olly Murs.

Those who pre-order new album This Life from the official store here before 10:00 on 26th September will receive a special code to access pre-sale tickets from Wednesday 27th September at 9.30am

Take That are renowned for their huge productions and incredible live shows, and currently hold the record for the most performances at London’s The O2 with 34 headline shows. 2011’s Progress tour broke box office records by selling over 1 million tickets in less than 24 hours, becoming the biggest tour in the UK and earning them a place on Billboard’s annual ‘Top 25 Tours’ list, placing third worldwide. In 2019, the band celebrated their 30th anniversary with the 38 date sell-out Odyssey tour which saw them play to 29 arenas and 9 stadiums, selling over 650,000 tickets.

Take That’s brand new single, Windows, out today - sees them reunite for their first original composition in over five years. Windows, is a beautiful track which tells the story of emerging from the darkness into the light. As a familiar falsetto rings out across the opening notes of Windows, it signals a new era for one of Britain’s best selling bands, Take That; an era brimming with energy, creativity and a continued desire to challenge and surprise.

The musicality of Windows hints at what listeners can expect from This Life, the band’s ninth studio album and their first since 2017’s Wonderland. Beautiful melodies, soaring choruses, sophisticated harmonies beautifully blending the trio’s voices permeate the new album, due for release on 24th November.

“It’s been a wonderful experience being back in the studio together making this record. It has that feeling of spreading your wings, letting out the old and bringing in the new” commented the band. 'We’re incredibly proud of the new album - there’s a sense of togetherness, whether that’s us coming back together as a band or people wanting connection in their own lives. We’re excited for this new chapter."

Throughout the writing and recording process, the band honed this new sound in some of music’s most hallowed halls, including New York’s Electric Lady Studios and Nashville’s Historic RCA Studio A which between them have hosted David Bowie, Dolly Parton, The Beach Boys, Adele, Taylor Swift, Maggie Rogers and more. Windows and upcoming album This Life continues the legacy of one of the most successful bands in British chart history, with over 45 million records sold worldwide and 12 Number 1 hits in the UK.

For a band 30+ years into their career, Take That are not standing still; constantly evolving, the future looks bright for the trio.

About Take That

Formed as a five-piece in 1989, Take That enjoyed immediate success with their first two albums charting at Number 2 and Number 1 respectively. Third album Nobody Else confirmed their global domination, selling over six million copies and topping the charts in 11 countries. The departure of band member Robbie Williams prompted a break-up in 1996 and nine years in the wilderness before the remaining four members reunited for 2005’s The Ultimate Tour. This sparked one of the greatest comebacks in British music history with Take That going on to release three Number 1 albums in just four years. Robbie’s return for 2011’s Progress saw them break UK records for the fastest-selling album of the 21st century and fastest-selling tour of all time. Williams’ second departure, along with that of Jason Orange, left the remaining three members to release III and 2017’s Wonderland, which were certified platinum and gold respectively.

The band celebrated their 30th anniversary with the release of Odyssey in 2018, a greatest hits album of beautifully re-imagined versions of some of the biggest tracks from their three-decade-spanning career. The album entered the charts at Number 1 and was closely followed by a critically acclaimed UK and European stadium and arena tour in 2019.

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Howard Donald, Gary Barlow and Mark Owen of Take That performing at the O2 Arena.

Take That review – oddly packaged pop still packs a wallop

O2 Arena, London There’s some magic amid the cheese as the trio revisit a stacked catalogue of hits – and gamely give their old choreography a go

I t’s difficult to say exactly what Take That are going for on their This Life tour: a 41-date behemoth that has shifted more than 700,000 tickets. Video interstitials show the three remaining members doing their very best at acting in retrofuturist infomercials. The set is sometimes done up like a 1950s sitcom, sometimes just with sterile white staircases. At times we’re at a pop show and at others a museum retrospective. It’s confusing packaging for three decades’ worth of songs.

But you simply have to relinquish reason and give into the vibe, which is Butlins’ redcoats doing Britain’s Got Talent. The trio emerge dressed like youth pastors by way of Balenciaga for a downbeat start to the show, but soon nudge it up a gear with crowd favourites nestled among the new material. Gary Barlow makes the most sense when he’s safely ensconced behind a piano, bashing out a ballad. A Million Love Songs absolutely shines, while Back for Good sounds as good as it ever has – which is very. Barlow never delivered these songs with much in the way of youthful energy, so the intervening 30 years have taken nothing from them.

The eras section, which comes with enthusiastic narration, a fake phonecall bit and never once mentions Robbie Williams or Jason Orange, is a fun if incomplete history of Britain’s most unlikely boyband. They gamely give the original Pray choreo a go, and for some reason their slinkiest hit, Sure, gets a big-band breakdown before lurching back in the direction of R&B to end. “Oh, you’re enjoying the 90s stuff,” Barlow says, with the undeniable air of a local radio DJ giving it everything he’s got.

Take That at the O2.

There is still no question that beyond the 90s stuff, Shine is an absolute roof-raising banger (despite the urge to buy discount products from big box retailers hanging over it), and The Flood comes into its own on the stage, crackling with energy. Each member gets his moment in the spotlight – Owen’s solo hit Clementine is when he really comes alive, while Donald’s mournful rendition of Speak Without Words (“Well, this never got released but here it is anyway”) is a reminder that his own solo career never took off.

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Amid the cheese and baffling stagecraft, there are further flashes of magic. Never Forget is a reminder of the power Take That wield: a slow burn, a heady shot of nostalgia and a euphoric passing of the baton to whatever comes next. They’ve come a long way – but they’re still not too sure where they’ve been.

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When are Take That on stage at London's O2 and what is their setlist?

If you're a Take That fan, you'll be pleased to know that they have officially returned to arenas around the UK. 

Following the release of their ninth studio album This Life, Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald have kicked off their UK and Ireland tour .

They've already played in Sheffield, Leeds and Dublin, but there's still an opportunity to catch them over six nights at the O2 here in London .

Take That are known for their party anthems such as Do What U Like and famous ballads such as A Million Love Songs and Back for Good. Formed in Manchester back in 1990, the band have received eight Brit Awards , have had 56 number-one singles and 42 number-one albums. The band’s original line-up also featured Jason Orange and Robbie Williams, but the group currently consists of Barlow, Owen, and Donald.

When are Take That playing in London?

Take That will be hitting the stage at the O2 on the following dates:

Thursday, April 25

Friday, April 26

Saturday, April 27

Sunday, April 28

Tuesday, April 30 

Wednesday, May 1

What time are they on stage?

Take That should be on stage some time between 8.30pm and 9pm. On April 28, expect a slightly earlier start time, as the curfew and doors are both earlier. 

What is their setlist?

There official set list hasn't yet been confirmed, but here's what it could look like based on a recent show in Leeds, according to Setlist.fm. And don't worry, it features favourites like Rule the World and the iconic Relight My Fire.

Keep Your Head Up

Days I Hate Myself

Everything Changes

A Million Love Songs

I Found Heaven

Forever Love

Speak Without Words

Get Ready for It

March of the Hopeful

The Champion

Greatest Day

Time and Time Again

Relight My Fire

One More Word

Hold Up a Light

Back for Good

Never Forget

Rule the World

Who are the support acts?

They will be joined on stage by special guest Olly Murs.

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Take That, O2 review: Gary Barlow still brings the house down

There were pyrotechnics, fun and silliness - and a huge string of hits.

Veteran boy band Take That (Photo: Callum Mills/RHM Productions)

How does a boyband grow up? In many ways, Take That have been the canary down the mine: now 32 years, 12 number one singles and 45 million record sales into a career of poptastic highs and lows, the UK’s best have settled into their role as pop elder statesman.

Even with their original five members down to just three for the past decade – with Gary Barlow , Howard Donald and Mark Owen present, and Robbie Williams and Jason Orange absent – they have now reached a third generation of fans: many present on the first of six nights at the O2 Arena weren’t even born when Take That first reformed in 2006.

Current album This Life , their first in six years, makes no real attempt to scale pop highs; songs are thoughtful, comfortable and tastefully put together. Live, it’s a different matter entirely. Past tours have delivered huge spectacles – the acrobatic Circus gala with its mechanical elephant springs to mind – and the This Life tour proves to be another extravaganza of song, dance and stagecraft.

There was high drama and fun and silliness in the band's 'This Life' show (Photo: Callum Mills/RHM Productions

They did begin with a touch of melodrama. For the opening new song “Keep Your Head Up”, an Imogen Heap-ish ballad, they appeared from inside a giant TV screen, excessively windswept and dressed in all black as if about to deliver a grave theatre production. But that soon gave way to a fun, knowingly silly, self-referential show that leaned into the inherent silliness of men in their fifties presenting pop music in such an OTT way.

We got everything from ticker tape to walkways that stretch the length of the arena; during “Shine”, an early, joyous highlight, a huge waterfall sprang from the front of the stage; for a wonderfully of-its-time dance-pop “Relight My Fire”, there were enough pyrotechnics to warm the whole of Greenwich. The spinning staircases the band cruised up and down made it look they were taking part in a 70s game show (“whose idea was it to have stairs?” Barlow joked). The band sang and danced to type – Barlow wittingly, Owen impishly, Donald imposingly – while various costume changes added to the sense of entertainment: at one point Donald wore a suit so yellow you couldn’t look directly at it for too long.

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The thrust of the show came in its mid-section, where under the guise of presenting a TV show they ran through a potted history of Take That’s rise, fall and rise – think This Is Your Life meets 70s Saturday morning kids’ TV (it was an idea Barlow explored in his recent one-man show; strangely, Robbie Williams used this exact tactic on his last tour).

Though the commentary they gave direct to camera was often a bit cringe, it worked well as a device to run through the hits. For a jazzier take on “Sure”, they dusted off the old dance routine to huge cheers; “Patience” had everyone reaching for the notes on the chorus; even Robbie-less, “The Flood” was big and dramatic.

While eight new songs mostly held up – the synth-rock of “Days I Hate Myself” and “This Life”, a Randy Newman-esque piano ballad” were the pick of the bunch – they were politely received compared to the wild reception to the hits. Barlow sang “A Million Love Songs” at the piano with feeling; a late run of “Back for Good”, “Never Forget” and “Rule the World”, anthems all, brought the house down.

“Should we do it? Could we do it?” Barlow had asked earlier about the band’s decision to carry on as a three-piece. “Of course we could”! He wasn’t wrong.

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ERAS / TYPES

Timeline / Live

Released 9 October 2022

The O2

1 Hey Wow Yeah Yeah 2 Let Me Entertain You 3 Land of 1000 Dances 4 Monsoon 5 Strong 6 Come Undone 7 Could It Be Magic 8 Don't Look Back in Anger 9 The Flood 10 Love My Life 11 Candy 12 Supreme 13 Feel 14 Kids 15 Rock DJ 16 No Regrets / Millenium 17 She's the One 18 Angels

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