Boxer Tyson Fury has collaborated on a Christmas song with Robbie Williams.
“That makes sense in some Universe,” admits Robbie of the unlikely duet.
Explaining how it came about, Rob says: ”I’ve got a residency in Vegas and while I was out there Tyson was fighting and he invited me to his dressing room before the fight. I said I’d seen him sing after fights, and asked him and he said yes.”
Their track, Bad Sharon, is about ”a boozy office party somewhere in the midlands", he adds. ”It made sense for Tyson in that moment in my head.
”He smashed it.”
Speaking at a playback of The Christmas Present at London bar The Court on Wednesday, Rob said Tyson - who famously sings in the boxing ring when he wins a match - recorded his parts from his home.
Rob’s double album features covers including Winter Wonderland and a collaboration with Jamie Cullum on a swing remake of Slade’s Merry Xmas Everybody.
Rob’s dad Pete duets on a cover of It’s A Wonderful Life. “A lot of this album has come out of the five towns,” Rob adds.
It also features new festive material, including two tracks with Sir Rod Stewart as well as a cover of Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) with Bryan Adams.
Robbie releases The Christmas Present on November 22 and is hoping for a festive No. 1 album. “That’s the big hope,” he says.
“That’s the reason I’ve been involving myself in this passion project for the past three years.”
He hopes the tracks will “annoy you all for the rest of your life”.
