Robbie Williams has pulled out of ‘Let It Shine’.
The 43-year-old singer was due to join his Take That bandmate Gary Barlow on the judging panel of the BBC One show’s final on Saturday (25.02.17), but due to an "ailment, he is unable to continue with the role of guest judge" and will be replaced by Peter Kay.
However, Robbie will still perform with his Take That bandmates Gary, Mark Owen and Howard Donald on the show, which is seeking to find performers to play a fictional boyband in Gary’s West End musical, ‘The Band’.
A message on the BBC One Twitter account stated: "Peter Kay to step in for Robbie as guest judge on tomorrow’s #LetItShine. Robbie will still perform with Take That!"
And a message on the BBC website said: "As previously announced, Robbie Williams will reunite with Take That for a special performance for the Let It Shine live final. Sadly due to an ailment he is unable to continue with the role of guest judge and we wish Robbie a very speedy recovery.
"However, we are thrilled to announce that Peter Kay will join as guest judge and sit on the panel alongside Gary Barlow, Dannii Minogue and Martin Kemp for tomorrow night’s live final."
Speaking previously about the show, Robbie said: "I’m looking forward to being back with Gary, Mark and Howard on ‘Let It Shine’ and am excited to be a guest judge for the very special final."
Robbie took a break from the boyband on a number of occasions in 1990, 2009 and again in 2014.
He admitted he struggled to deal with fame when he was younger but now regrets backing away from the industry, although at the time he thought it was the "most sane thing" to do.
Speaking previously, he said: "Back in the 1990s when I went out there to promote my album I was not really dealing with fame very well at all – if I am honest I was not really dealing with much very well. It was when I realised that the more fame I got, the more insane I became. So I just stopped as I needed a place where I was not famous, because that would be the most sane thing to do. Now I have changed my mind and I really regret it."
The final of Let It Shine airs on Saturday at 6.45pm on BBC One.
Robbie Williams pulls out of Let It Shine final
