Robbie Williams reveals he ‘never felt secure’ in Take That after he was almost kicked out the band aged 16 and ‘sought safety in drug and alcohol’

Robbie Williams has admitted he never felt his ‘place within Take That was safe’ after he was almost kicked out of the band when he was just 16-years-old. 

The singer, 50, was the youngest member of the band – alongside Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Jason Orange and Howard Donald – from when they formed in 1990 until he went solo in 1995. 

Robbie recalled how he struggled to pick up the ‘intricate dance moves’ and felt that their manager, Nigel Martin-Smith, never ‘loved or liked’ him, which led him to ‘seek safety in drugs and alcohol.’

Speaking on the upcoming BBC documentary, Boybands Forever, he said Martin threatened to kick him out. 

Robbie began: ‘The early days of take that were spent in rehearsals.’

The singer, 50, was the youngest member of the band – alongside Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Jason Orange and Howard Donald – from when they formed in 1990 until he went solo in 1995 (pictured in 1992)

He continued: ‘I had no dance background and the routines were so intricate so I would have trouble picking up the steps which would make me look like I was being lazy.

‘This was brought up in not a favourable way. Let’s just say Nigel wasn’t very happy with my application. 

‘”It won’t be difficult to kick you out of the band and get someone else with dark hair from Stoke-On-Trent and call him Robbie,” is what I remember. 

‘It made me feel like my place within the band was never safe or guaranteed. I was not loved, not  even liked and I was 16.’

Responding to the claims, Nigel added: ‘I think we all loved each other and still do. He’s clever isn’t he. It’s my fault because part of what we discussed was about telling stories. Robbie is brilliant at it.’

‘Nobody goes through that level of fame and comes out the other side sane or not mentally affected by it. 

‘Then if you mix that with a manger that wasn’t incredible at man management or emotional management that is a toxic workplace. 

My way of finding safety came in the form of substances and alcohol. I’s become feral lots of coke lots of darkness. Lots of comedowns that were hellish. Complete active addiction.’

Robbie recalled how he struggled to pick up the ‘intricate dance moves’ and felt that their manager, Nigel Martin-Smith, never ‘loved or liked’ him, which led him to ‘seek safety in drugs’ (pictured in 1992)

Nigel recalled: ‘He was getting drunk and partying and I think he was doing drugs of some sort, a couple of E’s or whatever, only what lads of his age do on a night out. It was no big deal. I would have known if it was that bad.’

Robbie said Nigel should have ‘known more’ and done his part to ‘protect him.’

‘He is smart is Robbie and it’s quite a clever thing to say “I did drugs because I was in a band where I was’t allowed girlfriends or whatever, that evil t**t Nigel,” the manager responded. 

Robbie continued: ‘I’m either incredibly clever or I may have just experienced something that really damaged me.’ 

Boybands Forever, takes a deep dive into the careers of Nineties and Noughties acts such as Take That, Westlife and Blue, and is set to air this weekend.