The Romesh Ranganathan Show Take That: 90s Regrets, Songwriting Pressures & The Circus Tour Returns
Feb 9, 2026
Howard Donald, dancer and DJ known for crafting Take That’s routines; Mark Owen, singer who shares dream road‑trip tales; Gary Barlow, songwriter behind many hits and a surprising Star Trek fan. They chat about the Circus Tour revival, audition stories, 90s fame and touring life. Short, funny anecdotes and nostalgia pepper the conversation.
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Teenage Jealousy Turned Regret
- Romesh admits he called Take That "ugly" at 14 and apologises now for being jealous.
- The band laugh about early doubts and how they proved sceptics wrong with long careers.
The Very Casual Audition
- The original Take That 'audition' was informal with only five or six people present.
- Gary pressed play on a tape and the guys improvised moves to MC Hammer's "You Can't Touch This."
Rebooting A Tour Feels Like Closure
- Revisiting the Circus Tour feels like completing unfinished business from 17 years ago.
- They aim to keep the original production but add selective upgrades for today's audience.