Take That “don’t know” where Jason Orange is.
The 53-year-old singer left the group in 2014 and while he occasionally gets in touch with his former bandmates – Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Gary Barlow – they are unable to maintain contact with him and wouldn’t know how to find him.
Howard told The Sun newspaper: “I don’t know where he is. He’s difficult to get hold of, and I believe that’s the way he wants it.
“When an album is coming out he’ll send an email saying, ‘I wish you all the success in the world’. And then the next day you try replying to it and it’s a no-reply email address.
“Wherever he is, I really hope he is happy.”
Gary admitted the lack of contact would have been “easier” to cope with if they had had a big row with Jason as then they’d have been able to understand his absence, but he does find it reassuring to know his former pal is still looking out for them.
He said: “It’s a tricky one with Jay. I almost think if there had been a big argument it would be easier, but there wasn’t.
“He just wanted a change in his life. But he does keep an eye on us. And it’s nice to know that.”
And despite rarely hearing from their old bandmate, the ‘Patience’ group admitted they’d still happily welcome him back to the fold if he ever wanted to return.
Howard said: “He’d done his time in Take That — although he’s welcome back anytime.”
Despite the band having formed in 1990, they have no plans to stop although Howard, 55, admitted they may have to slow down and adapt to getting older.
He said: “This is my life and I don’t ever want it to stop.
“We will get to a point where the dance moves may stop, but we will always have an energy.
“Next year’s tour will be amazing and different to previous ones. They’ve all been unique.
“We are so proud of how far we’ve come and what we’ve achieved with this album.
“It’s a new era and it almost makes me feel like we are just getting started.”