Robbie Williams is not returning to Take That.
The ‘Angels’ hitmaker – who first quit the band in 1995, a year before they split, but returned in 2010 for their ‘Progress’ album and tour – won’t be joining Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Jason Orange and Howard Donald when they next go out on the road because he wants to spend more time with his family.
Robbie – who announced earlier this week his wife Ayda Field is pregnant with their second child – said: "Logistically I can’t do it. I have the tour and I’m going to be a dad again."
However, the 40-year-old star – whose ‘Swing Both Ways’ tour started in Austria on Monday (28.04.14) – insists it doesn’t mean his time with the ‘Flood’ singers is over for good.
He added to The Sun newspaper: "It doesn’t mean to say I won’t join in along the way. Whatever happens, I am absolutely going to be in Take That — I love being in Take That.
"After [my] tour wraps, I’m going to go away for a year or two."
Gary previously admitted Robbie – who also has a 20-month-old daughter, Teddy Rose, with Ayda – had been given a deadline to decide whether to return to Take That.
He said: "We need to know what we are doing by the end of May.
"The thing is with Robbie is that he is a family man, so whether he will be in the final line-up I’m not sure.
However, he also admitted the ‘Candy’ hitmaker would have some involvement with their new album regardless of his decision to tour or not.
He added: "If he’s not back in the band, he’ll write on the record and we will work with him on his next record."
Robbie Williams not returning to Take That
