Robbie Williams’ snub for X Factor as he signs up to sing with Gary Barlow on Strictly Come Dancing
After his woeful performance on The X Factor last year, Robbie Williams has jumped ship to perform on rival show Strictly Come Dancing. In a massive coup for the BBC, the 36-year-old singer and Gary Barlow will perform their duet Shame on the Strictly Come Dancing live show on October 2. The Robster will be hoping Gary can help him through the nerves that made his performance on The X Factor last year so excruciating.
He was wild-eyed and fidgety as he sang comeback tune Bodies. But it will be a bitter blow for Simon Cowell, who was expecting Robbie to go back on The X Factor with his Take That bandmates and mentor this year’s hopefuls. There are rumours Cowell will ask Take That to perform two tracks of their new material as fans see the band as a five-piece for the first time in 15 years.
Even if that happens, it will feel like The X Factor, already reeling from the auto-tune scandal, is second best. A clearly delighted Moira Ross, executive producer of Strictly, said: “Having Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow performing on our first live weekend is a fantastic way to kick off this series. “With all 14 celebrity couples either dancing a waltz or a cha cha cha, it’s going to be an exciting start.” Robbie and Gary have already sung Shame live at this week’s Help For Heroes. Take That are no strangers to The X Factor.
Gary Barlow, 39, Mark Owen, 38, Jason Orange, 40, and Howard Donald, 42, performed with Leona Lewis on the 2006 final and in 2008 Gary and Mark mentored hopefuls including Alexandra Burke and JLS. Last year Robbie sang his own song and performed alongside Olly Murs, famously forgetting the words to his own song, Angels. Shame is taken from Robbie’s second greatest hits collection, In And Out Of Consciousness.
The lyrics are particularly poignant and clearly detail Robbie and Gary’s troubled relationship over the years. The song will be out on October 4 and the video is a parody of gay movie Brokeback Mountain. Strictly Come Dancing’s first live show is on Friday, October 1. There will also be a Saturday live show on October 2 when Robbie and Gary will perform. (source: dailyrecord.co.uk)