Robbie walked out of Take That reunion

Anthony Barnes

Robbie Williams' Take That return almost fell apart within months with the singer walking out shortly after rejoining, a new film has revealed.

The star realised after a brief charity appearance on stage with the group last year that he lacked the "energy" for the reunion.

But his bandmates rallied round, with Mark Owen convincing him step by step how he could ease his way back to make it less daunting, they reveal in new documentary Look Back, Don't Stare: A Film About Progress.

And Williams said he was now enjoying the experience too much to want to return to his solo status.

The group were shadowed during the making of their comeback album with Williams secretly teaming up last summer with the group he walked out on in 1995.

But after the quintet made their first public appearance together at a Children In Need concert in November, just days later Williams decided he was not up to it.

He says in the film: "I wasn't very well physically, I just didn't feel as if I had the energy to do it. It was a scary prospect to be out there amongst something that was so huge, feeling so depleted of life force."

The band explained how they were devastated by his departure and tried to win him round.

Jason Orange said: "When Rob was on board it reinvigorated my excitement. So then when he pulled out again it was like the rug was pulled from under my feet, I was gutted."

Meanwhile, Mark Owen has told how he was not able to recognise the person he had become before he went into rehab.

The singer (38) checked himself into a private clinic in March, days after admitting he had a drink problem and had cheated on Emma Ferguson, the mother of his two children and his partner of five years.

Owen said of the experience: "In rehab, I was able to look at my behaviour, at who I was and who I wasn't. I'd kind of become this person I didn't really recognise. How did that happen? You silly b*****d!"

hnews@herald.ie