Take That have been talking about how upset they are about Robbie Williams' situation following his recent, previously reported decision to check himself into rehab. I hope they don't feel as though they are having to do a 'damage limitation' exercise, after they were accused in certain quarters of 'snubbing' their former bandmate at the Brits.
The band's Mark Owen told Reveal magazine: "I'm so worried about him. I'm gutted and devastated things have ended up like this. I think he should come back to the UK. When I heard about him checking into rehab, I felt really sad - I just want him to get happy again. I'll do anything I can to help him. If he wants me to see him, I'll be straight on that plane".
Owen went on to admit that "me and Rob went through a period where we didn't speak", but explained how Williams got in touch after Owen won C'leb Big Brother back in 2002, and that the two have spoken around three times a week ever since. "Rob was always my mate and I always felt very close to him", Mark says.
Colleague Howard Donald continued: "I've been calling him loads. I'm upset some people think it's our success that's made him depressed".
Owen added that he thought recent comments from the likes of Russell Brand and Noel Gallagher about Williams were not appropriate, saying: "I felt bad at the Brits because there were some jokes said about Robbie that made it look like he was being mocked".