Robbie Williams to host special Radio 2 Sounds of the 90s takeover hour

Robbie Williams takes over a special hour of Sounds of the 90s on BBC Radio 2 on Saturday 14 February.

The singer will front the second hour of the show, reflecting on a decade that shaped his personal life and chart success, while Fearne Cotton continues to host the opening hour as usual.

Robbie revisits the defining moments of his rise from boyband fame to solo superstardom, offering personal reflections on the pressures, headlines, and musical influences that surrounded him during one of pop’s most colourful periods.

Looking back, Robbie describes the emotional intensity of that era, saying, “the 90s was a very good time to have a bad time,” as he discusses both career highs and personal struggles.

The special broadcast arrives as his latest album Britpop reaches the top of the charts, alongside him achieving a new record for the most UK number one albums by a solo artist.

Robbie also reflects on the Britpop movement and how it influenced his own creative direction, particularly during a time when he was redefining himself after leaving Take That.

In the week that marks the 30th anniversary of the group’s split, Robbie shares his memories of the departure that became one of the biggest pop stories of its time.

He recalls his mindset at the moment he left the band, saying, “I left Take That, and I was full of anger for how I perceived how I was being treated and who I thought Gary Barlow was at the time.”

Robbie also explains how his relationship with Barlow has changed over the years, revealing their lasting friendship and mutual respect after decades in the spotlight.

During the programme, Robbie highlights the artists and cultural moments that defined his own 90s experience, including his memories of Cool Britannia and TV shows he regularly watched.

The programme also includes Robbie revisiting a rare archive moment from 1996, when he presented a one-off special show on BBC Radio 1 at the height of his early solo career.

Joining him in the studio is his wife, actress Ayda Field Williams, who hears many of his stories from that decade for the first time during the broadcast.

Music featured that shaped Robbie’s journey, includes tracks from 5ive, Underworld, East 17, Oasis, Jay Z, alongside several of his own hits from the period.

Robbie shares how some of those songs helped him process fame and rivalry within the music industry, while also revealing what he calls his favourite tune of all time.

Sounds of the 90s: The Robbie Williams Takeover can be heard on BBC Radio 2, 11pm-midnight on Saturday 14 February.