Take That will be performing an intimate gig in front of a lucky small audience of Radio 2 listeners and speaking in depth to Dermot O’Leary for BBC Two’s Reel Stories, both to be broadcast in November.
Take That says: “We can’t wait for Radio 2 In Concert. It’s such an honour to be asked to play such a prestigious show. At the heart of things, it’s a special and intimate show, but to also know how many fans will be tuning in from home – it takes the experience to another level. We are so excited to play songs from our new album live for the first time ever and of course revisit old favourites from the past. And the cherry on top is getting to see the wonderful Jo Whiley. We love watching Reel Stories and of course couldn’t say no to our old friend Dermot. Reliving the last 30 years we’ve spent together really was a journey. A lot of laughs, remembering times we thought we’d forgotten, possibly purposefully! It never ceases to humble us how fortunate we are to have had such an accomplished career as a band.”
As revealed by Jo Whiley on The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show this morning (Monday 30 October), the concert will be recorded at the BBC Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House, London. It will be broadcast on Radio 2 and BBC Sounds on Thursday 23rd November, and soon after on BBC Two. Tickets will be allocated via ballot www.bbc.co.uk/radio2inconcert. Registration is open now, and closes at 9pm on Monday 6 November.
Jo Whiley, host of Radio 2 In Concert, says: “Take That’s Gary, Howard and Mark are quite simply national treasures. Their music is the soundtrack to so many of our lives and their live performances never disappoint, so I can’t wait to see them perform in this exclusive Radio 2 concert.”
Jeff Smith, Head of Music for Radio 2, says: “It’s Radio 2’s mission to bring live and exclusive music sessions from the world’s most loved artists to our audience, so I’m thrilled that Take That will be delighting us with new material and some of their much-loved hits which we’ll, of course, be singing along to in the fabulous surroundings of the Radio Theatre. You can hear on Radio 2 and BBC Sounds and soon after on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.”
The band will be talking to Dermot O’Leary in a brand new episode of Reel Stories for BBC Two. Gary, Howard and Mark join Dermot at a cinema to look back at their remarkable career and discuss how they became the biggest pop band in the world – not once, but twice! Across an hour of reflection, nostalgia and surprises, the band watch back key performances, events and moments from the last 30 years, re-living their highs and lows in intimate detail.
Dermot says: “I’ve interviewed Take That many times before, and am glad to call them my friends, but we’ve never properly sat down for an extensive chat. They were honest, funny, wise and frank. It was a joy to spend time with them and I hope not only Take That fans, but anyone who loves music enjoys it.”
Jonathan Rothery, Head of Popular Music for BBC Music, says: “Take That watching back unseen footage, along with a deep dive by Dermot into the band’s quite extraordinary career, in Reel Stories on BBC Two is pure joy for a dark November evening.”
Home video footage shows them performing in school assemblies and in forgotten TV performances as they grafted for two years before their breakthrough hit, It Only Takes A Minute. They reflect on what followed after their meteoric rise, the chaotic success of the 1990s, from the epic highs and adulation of their initial fame to the darker side of success – the constant press attention and intrusion, and the toll of relentless pressure. They discuss Robbie’s departure in 1995 and the band’s break up the following year – their feelings at the time and their feelings now, with more than 25 years of hindsight.
Dermot talks in depth about the emotional reunion with their fans on their 2006 comeback tour, recording their first album back together, the 2009 reunion with Robbie, and their status as British music icons, headlining King Charles III’s Coronation Concert. Gary, Mark and Howard watch these moments back and discuss their rise back to the very top, revealing the secrets of how it happened, why they did it and where they found the belief to do what no one thought possible.
Reel Stories will be broadcast on BBC Two in November and will be available on BBC iPlayer. Previous Reel Stories interviewees include Pet Shop Boys, Noel Gallagher, Dave Grohl, Kylie Minogue, Rod Stewart, Sting and Robbie Williams.
Reel Stories: Take That was commissioned for BBC Two by Jonathan Rothery, Head of Popular Music TV. Commissioning Editor is Rachel Davies, BBC Music TV. It is produced by Craft Films and Ora Et Labora.
Loved around the globe, Take That are one of the UK’s most successful bands, with over 45 million records sold worldwide, eight Number One albums and 12 chart-topping singles in the UK. They last performed for Radio 2 live in Hyde Park in 2017, and last performed in the Radio Theatre for Radio 2 In Concert in 2014. In The Ultimate Take That Song – broadcast on Radio 2 on New Year’s Day earlier this year – Never Forget was revealed as the listeners’ favourite Take That song following an online vote.
Radio 2 In Concert with Take That follows on from Radio 2 In Concert with Blur in July and builds on the live music coverage the station has brought to music lovers this year. In September, Radio 2 in the Park – the network’s first flagship event since Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park in 2019 – took place in Leicester with Tears for Fears and Kylie headlining, and Bananarama, Texas, James Blunt, Deacon Blue, Beverley Knight, Busted, Soft Cell, Pretenders, Shalamar, Rick Astley, Jessie Ware, Lemar, Sam Ryder and Simply Red performing across the weekend. Jo Whiley’s show (Monday to Thursday, 7-9pm) has featured Sofa Sessions from Willie J. Healey, Georgia, Grace Carter, Olivia Dean, Far From Saints and Christine & The Queens. In his new Radio 2 mid-morning show (Monday to Friday, 9.30am-12pm), Vernon Kay has James Bay (available now on BBC Sounds) and Grace Carter (Thursday 2nd November) performing two new Piano Room sessions, following previous sessions from Def Leppard and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. In February 2023, Radio 2’s Piano Room Month featured a star-studded line-up, including Stormzy, P!nk, Sugababes, Suede, and Haircut 100 who all performed with the BBC Concert Orchestra.
BBC Radio 2 is the UK’s most listened to radio station, with a weekly audience of 13.5 million (RAJAR Q3, 2023). The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show is most listened to breakfast show in the UK with an audience of 6.5 million (RAJAR Q3, 2023). The network’s presenters include Michael Ball, Zoe Ball, Rob Beckett, Tony Blackburn, OJ Borg, Rev. Kate Bottley, Rylan, Fearne Cotton, Sara Cox, Jamie Cullum, Gary Davies, Paul Gambaccini, Angela Griffin, Bob Harris, Vernon Kay, Cerys Matthews, Scott Mills, Jason Mohammad, Trevor Nelson, Dermot O’Leary, Elaine Paige, Mark Radcliffe, Romesh Ranganathan, DJ Spoony, Liza Tarbuck, Jeremy Vine, Michelle Visage, Johnnie Walker, Jo Whiley, Phil Williams, Claudia Winkleman, Steve Wright and Owain Wyn Evans.
Source
BBC TWO
