Take That have re-imagined their greatest hits for new LP ‘Odyssey’ and announced a 30th anniversary tour.
The ‘Back For Good’ hitmakers – Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald – have today released lead single ‘Pray’ from the forthcoming record, and Gary has assured fans that they have been "respectful" to the original songs, which have been overseen by long-time producer Stuart Price, whilst also giving them a new lease of life.
Gary said: "Some have been reworked, but without spoiling what people loved about them in the first place.
"You’ve got to be respectful, but at the same time, you’ve got to let the ambition of doing something new and refreshed come through as well."
The extensive run of dates in the UK and Ireland kick off on April 15, 2019, including six stops at London’s The O2, before wrapping in Huddersfield at the John Smith’s Stadium on June 4.
The ‘Rule The World’ group will be joined by special guest and fellow northerner, 80s pop star Rick Astley on the road.
The Manchester boyband formed in 1989, along with part-timer Robbie Williams and former member Jason Orange.
There had been talk of both of them rejoining the group for the special milestone.
However, Robbie – who quit Take That in 1995, a year before they originally split, and rejoined from 2009 to 2012 – admitted though he’d love to mark 30 years of the band, he’d only be willing to do it if Jason came back after leaving in 2014.
He said: "I’m up for it. But I don’t know what their calendar says, what my calendar says. I don’t know what their manager says.
"We’d all love to do it. I’d love to get Jason back involved, realistically I don’t think so.
"If we could get Jay back it would be perfect."
‘Odyssey’ is released on November 23, tickets for the tour go on sale on September 28 from 9.30am.
Take That’s 2018 tour dates are as follows:
Monday 15 April, Sheffield FlyDSA Arena
Tuesday 16 April, Sheffield FlyDSA Arena
Thursday 18 April, Glasgow The SSE Hydro
Friday 19 April, Glasgow The SSE Hydro
Saturday 20 April, Glasgow The SSE Hydro
Monday 22 April, Manchester Arena
Tuesday 23 April, Manchester Arena
Thursday 25 April, Manchester Arena
Friday 26 April, Manchester Arena
Saturday 27 April, Manchester Arena
Monday 29 April, Dublin 3Arena
Thursday 02 May, London The O2
Friday 03 May, London The O2
Saturday 04 May, London The O2
Sunday 05 May, London The O2
Tuesday 07 May, London The O2
Wednesday 08 May, London The O2
Sunday 12 May, Birmingham Arena
Monday 13 May, Birmingham Arena
Tuesday 14 May, Birmingham Arena
Friday 17 May, Birmingham Arena
Saturday 18 May, Birmingham Arena
Thursday 23 May, Milton Keynes Stadium MK
Saturday 25 May, Southampton St Mary’s Stadium
Tuesday 28 May, Bristol Ashton Gate Stadium
Thursday 30 May, Norwich City Carrow Road Stadium
Saturday 01 June, Middlesbrough Riverside Stadium
Tuesday 04 June, Huddersfield John Smith’s Stadium