Gary Barlow's heartbreaking realisation that Jason Orange was leaving Take That

16 November 2023 , 10:36

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Gary Barlow's heartbreaking realisation that Jason Orange was leaving Take That

Gary Barlow has recalled the heartbreaking moment he realised that Jason Orange would never return to Take That.

The Take That trio have said they had no idea if Jason would return to the iconic UK boyband as they continued to record an album without him back in 2014.

Jason, 53, left fans heartbroken when he announced he was quitting the band in almost a decade ago. At the time, the singer insisted he'd had the 'best years of his life' with the chart-toppers, and assured the band's loyal followers that while he had spent 'some of the best years of my life with Take That', he no longer wanted to be part of the band. “There have been no fallings out, only a decision on my part that I no longer wish to do this,” he said in an emotional statement.

Describing Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen as his “brothers”, Jason said he told them during a band meeting that he wanted out. “There have been no fallings out, only a decision on my part that I no longer wish to do this. I know how much Mark, Gary and Howard enjoy writing and making music, and they know that they have my full support and encouragement to continue on with what is to be another chapter for the band.”

Both Jason Orange and Robbie Williams left Take That (Getty Images)

As Take That get ready to release their new album and a new tour, almost 10 years after Jason’s departure, Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, and Howard Donald have opened up about how 'lost' they felt while recording their first album without Jason in 2014.

Take That's Howard has so many cars he's run out of room to store them all

Speaking on their brand-new podcast, Take That: This Life, the trio have recounted pivotal moments from their epic 30+ year career, charting their journey from five young lads playing Manchester clubs to number one albums, record-breaking tours and everything in between.

In the latest episode of the podcast, Gary, 52, revealed that he, Mark, and Donald were 'left in limbo' not knowing whether or not Jason would ever return to the band after his shock departure. "It was a funny album wasn't it because when we started making that particular record, we still didn't know if Jay was going to come back or not. I mean, he’d not really given us any indication he was coming back but we were making it not knowing whether he was coming back or not. We were writing without knowing what was going on."

Mark added: "I think we were probably allowing space in case he changed his mind. I think that what we were thinking and probably songwriting wise as well and where we were going with the record. We'd spent a little bit of time together."

The trio discussed Jason's departure from the band on their new podcast (PR Handout)

Gary then went on to recall the moment he finally knew there was no talking Jason out of leaving the band after finally realising that he had made up his mind - and there was no changing it whatsoever. The singer said: "One very poignant bit stuck with me. I remember we sat with Jason, it was quite clear he'd made his mind up. We were 46 or whatever at the time and I realised I can't sit here and try and talk him round - he’d made his mind up.

"He said I want to write to the fans and say thanks for all the years and I think we literally sat for the next two days and monitored social media. All of our audience were like, you've got to carry on. I think it was that that made us go right, let's get back in the studio, let's finish this album. Let's at least see how this could be, because we didn't know did we?

"We didn’t know how it was gonna be, how it was gonna sound or look at that point. I remember going back into the studio the next week and we really went for it. We were under time constraints at that point, we had to get it ready quickly. We usually have lots of time to get prepped. We finished the single, did a great video around it, and I think it ended up being a farewell to Jay in a lovely, happy piece of music. Talking about the past and how the times we’ve had have been brilliant and let's live for them, every day remembering them. It just seemed like the perfect piece of music. And then of course we toured and it was one of my favourites."

Frontman Gary was previously reportedly desperate for Jason to rejoin Take That. The singer previously told The Sun: “Jason isn't coming back. Take That is Mark, Howard and me for the next few years.“

Jason now lives a quiet life away from fame (Getty Images)

Jason left the band in 2014 (Getty Images)

And in 2018, Howard revealed Jason had stopped responding to calls and appeared to have completely gone off the grid to live a more “normal life“ in the countryside. “Jason has gone off the grid. He's not taking emails or phone calls or stuff like that. That's good for him,“ he told the Loose Women panel. “That's where he wants to be. I think he wants to be a million miles away from this at the moment.“

Since quitting fame, Jason was said to be living a life away from the limelight in the Cotswolds. Little is known about the star's personal life, but Gary previously said: “At the end of the day you’ve got to accept someone doesn’t want to do what you’re doing any more. He wanted to go off, live his life and good luck to him if that’s what he wants to do. He’s spent a big part of his life being in the band, but he doesn’t want to do it any more, it’s that simple.“

Susan Knox