Take That to reform but without Robbie

Boy band Take That have plans to reunite - but without Robbie Williams (second from right). File picture / Reuters

LONDON - Take That are to reform for a tour of the country -- but Robbie Williams will not be joining his old boy band.

The group, the first band since The Beatles to score four consecutive number one singles, sold 25 million records worldwide before breaking up in 1996.

Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange and Mark Owen announced at a London news conference that they are reuniting for an 11-date arena tour starting in April.

Interest in the band assembled by talent scout Nigel Martin-Smith has revived with a documentary about their glory days and the release of a compilation album of greatest hits like "A Million Love Songs" and "Back For Good."

"It is kind of now or never for all of us," Mark Owen told reporters. "I think if we don't do it now, we probably never could."

Gary Barlow, whose pop chart rivalry with Robbie Williams was rich tabloid fodder when they both went solo, said he would love to have Robbie on tour with them.

"But we do respect that's not going to happen," he said. "Rob's got his own deal going on and we obviously wish him the best with that."

The band's winning combination of boy-next-door imagery mixed with a whiff of teenage fantasy proved irresistible to young girls throughout the world and became the blueprint for boy bands everywhere.

The quintet of Manchester lads spawned a multi-million pound industry complete with risque videos, pouting posters and a host of marketing spin-offs like Take That plastic dolls.

Success across the country was quickly followed by fame in the rest of Europe and Asia with a rare breakthrough in the US market in the latter stages of their career.

Williams was the first to quit the band -- in July 1995 -- and he has achieved by far the greatest stardom as a solo singer.

- REUTERS