Robbie Williams and Take That: a love story

It may come as a surprise when you see pictures such as this, but in 1991 Take That were aimed at the gay market Photograph: Andre Csillag/Rex Features

By 1992, it was clear that Gary, Howard, Jason, Mark and Robbie were going to be a huge hit with teenage girls, hence the prevalence of 'curtain' haircuts in this picture Photograph: Rex Features

Robbie Williams on stage with Take That at Wembley arena in 1993, when everyone wore pastel knitwear and everything was going so well ... Photograph: Mick Hutson/Redferns/Getty Images

... until 1995. Oh no! The cheeky one from Take That hooks up with the gobby one from Oasis, and it's out with the curtains and in with the cigarettes, terrible dye-job and tracksuits. It's clear that Robbie's Take That days had come to and end Photograph: Brian Rasic/Rex Features

1996: Then there were four, and all attempts at decent haircuts had been abandoned, so it was only a matter of time until the remaining members of Take That called time on the biggest boyband in the UK Photograph: Howard Barlow/Redferns/Getty Images

"No, no, NOOOOOOO! DON'T DO IT, WE LOVE YOU!!!" scream fans distraught over the band's split. Incidentally, did Jason Orange actually play the guitar or just pose with one? Photograph: ANP Foto/Rex Features

By 1998, Robbie Williams was going it alone and doing his thing on stage at the Brits. Really, it takes quite an outfit to make Tom Jones's tie look tasteful Photograph: Dave Hogan/Getty Images

Leather suits and cuban heels aside, Robbie's solo career went extremely well. Here he is dodging a bra and a small blue toy on stage at Knebworth in 2003 Photograph: Jon Furniss/Getty Images

Robbie Williams performs at Live 8 in 2005, with a look that says he's never regretted leaving Take That for a second
Dan Chung/The Guardian

Meanwhile, the rest of the band put aside their various solo careers as DJs and reality TV stars to reunite. Take That's 2006 comeback album, Beautiful World, sells more than 2.5m copies Photograph: Dave Hogan/Getty Images

In 2009, Robbie sees his eighth solo album, Reality Killed the Video Star, lose out on the No 1 spot to boyband upstarts JLS. And suddenly a place in the reunited Take That doesn't look so bad Photograph: Yui Mok/PA

Still, you can't blame Robbie for holding out on Take That when you see what kind of wardrobe was on offer Photograph: Dave Hogan/Getty Images

'Hmm, this seems to be what the people want. Can I come back now please?' Robbie asks, when joined by Mark and Gary for a special Children in Need performance in 2009 Photograph: Yui Mok/PA

'Ha ha, of course you can come back Rob, we'll make loads and loads of money!' And so a thousand dreams were made when Robbie rejoined Take That in the summer of 2010 Photograph: Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images