Take That singer Gary Barlow has said he still regrets not spotting the signs that led to Robbie Williams eventual departure from the group.

Williams left the boy band in 1995 to launch a solo career amid tabloid reports that he had begun experimenting with drink and drugs.

In an interview with The Sun newspaper, Barlow said there was “a series of events” in Williams' life that the group “should have spotted”.

“That’s my one regret. I missed the signs. I think we all did.”

He added: “Rob would go to Dublin or somewhere and get off his head. Then he’d come home and say: ‘I haven’t slept for two days.’

“He didn’t want to go home and face his mum so he’d come to me first. He’s one of us still, so I feel sorry for him and my natural instinct is to help him. His life could be better.”

In a wide-ranging interview, Barlow also renewed speculation that Williams could rejoin the band after their upcoming summer tour.

“I don’t think the way for him to come back would be the stage shows,” he said. “If I wanted Rob to do something again it would be on a creative level.”

As previously reported, Williams expressed an interest in rejoining the group at the end of last year.

Despite his successful solo career, he said he had wanted to be in a band again ever since he left the group in the mid-90s.

(by Jason Gregory)