Ross King: I know the real Gary Barlow… and he’s back for good

I’VE known him for a very long time, stretching back to all the way before Take That were just starting out or even had any hits.

But I’ve never known him to be so honest.

Gary Barlow has penned a new book, A Better Me, and it will make you see him in a very different light.

A decade ago he was overweight, egotistical and dripping with self-loathing.

It pains me to say that about a guy I have come to know as a friend – but this is how Gary describes himself in his book, A Better Me.

We sat down for a chat and he told me how he battled his demons and turned his life around.

Gary admits he wasn’t the most pleasant person to be around for years at the height of Take That’s fame, and following the band’s split.

“It took me 10 years to get back to who I wanted to be,” he explained.

“But I’m glad I had those years, it taught me a lot, like how to live a better life and how to treat people better.

“The ego was completely out of control in the ’90s.

“I didn’t spend a lot of time with you in that period, Ross, but if you knew anyone who was around me then they would have told you it wasn’t nice. And it wasn’t me.

“I look back on that period and it was a lonely time.

“I stopped singing for nine years, I just turned my back on it. I was trying to kill off the pop star. I was eating away the pop star, and I liked getting rid of him.

“It was a really humiliating thing that happened. You’re in a band, you get dropped.

“One of your band members goes through the stratosphere, and you’re just the loser. I just didn’t want to be me.”

He told me how he battled back – calling it “an exorcism” – and how he slowly donned his mental armour to regain the confidence to re-forge his musical career.

He also told me about his relationship with Robbie – which he says is better than ever.

“I’m not surprised he’s taken The X Factor job, I’m surprised he waited so long,” he added.

“It’s a genius idea taking Ayda with him. I remember meeting her for the first time and coming back to the hotel.

“I phoned everyone up and said, ‘Rob’s going to be all right, because she’s going to save his life.’”