Robbie Williams opens up to Scott Mills on BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show

Robbie Williams reflected on ambition, Take That, work and self-doubt during an extended BBC Radio 2 interview this morning.

Joining Scott Mills on his Breakfast Show, Robbie had a wide-ranging conversation covering his new album Britpop, his relationship with Take That, and his ongoing drive to keep creating.

Robbie spoke candidly about what it would mean to break his tie with The Beatles for the most Number One albums in the UK. He admitted it is something he wants deeply, even as it brings out feelings of imposter syndrome.

He described the potential record as one of the most important achievements of his career outside his family life.

The interview also revisited Take That’s upcoming Circus tour, which Robbie praised as one of the best live shows ever staged.

He recalled how watching footage of the tour originally tempted him back into the band, but confirmed he has no current plans to rejoin them this time around, despite his affection for the production.

Robbie revealed he is far from slowing down creatively, telling Scott he has five albums already written and ready to go. He explained that while Britpop is the focus right now, another album is planned purely for personal satisfaction, regardless of how it is received.

The pair bonded over their shared relationship with work, openly acknowledging that neither of them is particularly good at balance, but both currently see their ambition as a positive force rather than a problem.

Robbie also spoke openly about why he chose not to pursue long-term success in the United States, despite encouragement from artists like Jon Bon Jovi. He described how stepping away from that level of global fame allowed him space, anonymity, and ultimately stability during a difficult period of his life.

“Why do I want that? Why do I need that?” Robbie said of cracking America at the height of his fame. “I was like, well, I don’t. Okay.”

He went on to praise Jon Bon Jovi extensively, calling him one of the greatest performers of all time and urging people to watch the band’s recent documentary, admiring the confidence with which Bon Jovi embraces his own legacy.

The conversation also touched on criticism and online judgement, with Robbie admitting he still cares what people think and remains sensitive to words, even as he works to catch himself before judging others in the same way.

Britpop, released on 6 February, is described by Robbie as the album he would make if he had just left Take That in 1997, armed with everything he knows now. He summed it up simply as British pop music with guitars but rooted in reflection rather than nostalgia.

You can listen to the full interview here.