'IT TOOK FIVE YEARS TO BEAT MY DEMONS'

Watching his former band mate Robbie Williams conquer the world should have filled Gary Barlow with brotherly pride. Instead, their intense rivalry meant he was consumed by feelings of shame and worthlessness that would rock his mental health for years to come.
Opening up about his three-decade career, Gary, 52, admits that Robbie's exit from Take That, the band's split, and his lacklustre attempt to go solo left him in a vulnerable place in the late 90s.
"I remember thinking, 'Who am I? What do I really think?' I'd lost all identity by that point," he says. "I spent a year blaming myself, a year feeling sorry for myself. There was a shame thing going on with me, which was constantly being reminded by Robbie, who was King of the World at the time."
Robbie's career was going from strength to strength. The Angels singer's albums dominated the charts and he couldn't resist taking a pop at Gary whenever he was given a chance to. "Sorry, Gary, but I was always the talented member of the band," he said as he picked up a Brit Award for Best Song in 2005.
"Every time that happened, it would take me six months to get over another version of him saying something and everyone laughing," Gary says. "So I had some eating disorders along the way. I battered myself." Rebuilding his mental health took years.
"I had to start from scratch. It was a very slow climb back," he tells BBC Two's Reel Stories. "I think in the modern day, a therapist would have undone it in about 12 months, but it took me five years to eventually come out of it with some kind of light."
But today, the Take That boys - Gary, Mark Owen and Howard Donald - can look back at the band's journey with pride and a handful of laughs. Particularly when they revisit the boy band's early days, performing at a school assembly in 1992.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 27, 2023 من OK! UK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 27, 2023 من OK! UK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول

J.LO GETS ON THE FLOOR
The stars were out in force last week for the American Music Awards, where there were stunning outfits – and controversy.

WELCOME TO CANADA
Cheering crowds greet King Charles and Queen Camilla on their whirlwind visit to Ottawa

'I think I threatened them within an inch of their lives to hire me ,
Award-winning actress Gillian Anderson embarks on an epic adventure in The Salt Path and reflects on some of the other highlights of her career

You never know what's around the Corner in life
Amy Childs on her mum's health scare, why she and Billy Delbosq have postponed their wedding and her recent weight loss

'I think IVF is something a lot of people can relate to'
Atomic Kitten's Liz McClarnon-Cho on her baby news and the pregnancy story that took her from heartbreak to happiness

I'm at ease with myself now'
Dame Kelly Holmes talks about slowing down at 55, life with partner Louise and hanging out with her alpacas

'Mollie feels like a sister to me
Radio presenter Matt Edmondson on his co-host pal, making music and his latest fun song.

THE SCENIC ROUTE
Discover the beauty of the Norwegian Fjords on a P&O Cruises holiday

'We shouldn't be scared of our age'
Actress and film producer Caprice Bourret on her latest romcom and why making movies has been her smartest move yet

I'm looking forward to celebrating with Billy Ray'
Actress and style icon Elizabeth Hurley embraces her 60th birthday as she embarks on a new era of love with country star Billy Ray Cyrus