Robbie Williams

Robbie Williams: Fans describe homecoming gig as electric

About 20,000 people were at Vale Park on Saturday for a gig that was postponed for two years due to Covid.

Williams called it "an incredibly special night" and raised funds for charities including Unicef and The Donna Louise Children's Hospice.

He played all of his biggest hits, including Let Me Entertain You, Rock DJ, Millennium and Angels.

Williams, 48, who also performed a cover of Don't Look Back in Anger by Oasis, told the crowd he wanted to make this a regular thing, BBC Radio Stoke reported.

Robbie Williams to rejoin Take That for virtual gig

The online charity concert will see the 46-year-old and his ex-bandmates Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald each perform from their own respective homes, due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

A bit like your current work morning meeting, but with added 90s hits.

It is the first time Williams has performed with the band since the 2018 X Factor final.

It also means only Jason Orange is the only one missing from the original Take That line-up, which released its debut album Take That and Party almost three decades ago.

Robbie Williams to kick off World Cup - despite offending Russia in 2016

The pop star, whose hits include Angels and Let Me Entertain You, will headline the tournament's opening ceremony at the Luzhniki Stadium on Thursday.

He will perform alongside Russian soprano Aida Garifullina, just half an hour before the first match kicks off.

But he will presumably exclude the song Party Like A Russian from his setlist.

The track, which portrays Russia's elite as unsmiling, super-rich autocrats who party on superyachts and hire thugs to settle disputes by putting "the boots in", was roundly criticised in Russia upon its release in 2016.

Robbie Williams breaks David Bowie's album chart record

The singer's latest album, The Heavy Entertainment Show, has debuted at number one on this week's chart.

It is his 12th album to reach the summit - and pushes him ahead of David Bowie, who has 11 number one albums to his name.

Williams said: "I'm chuffed that this album is number one and I'm humbled by these amazing statistics and facts."

The singer now has as many number one albums as Madonna, but remains behind The Beatles, (who have 15), and Elvis Presley (13).