Gary Barlow admits he had "anxiety" about returning to work after lockdown
"I didn’t sleep all week"
Last updated 4th Jun 2021
Most of us have been itching to get back to normal during the COVID-19 pandemic, but that doesn't mean it's going to be all plain sailing. And Gary Barlow found that out when filming for his TV special.
Gary told Magic's Kat Shoob and Tom Price that leading up to the filming of "I'm With The Band" - a one off TV show that brings together the unlikely group of Barlow, Jamie Cullum, Mica Paris, James Bay and Tom Fletcher of McFly - he felt very anxious.
"I had to turn up at a time and do something. And people were going to be looking at me." According to Gary, the others felt the same way. "It’s something that’s been so natural throughout our lives but it definitely feels strange."
He went on to add that he didn’t sleep at all that week. "I’m as desperate as anyone else to get back to normality because that’s not right. We should be able to turn up at things and feel fine."
Luckily, Gary got his groove back once they started playing music together, but he joked that although the music was amazing, there was one thing he didn't enjoy. "It felt so special getting dressed but I felt so uncomfortable all day. Real clothes are not comfortable."
While it was the first in person performance Gary had done since the pandemic, he's certainly kept himself busy over lockdown. "I enjoyed the silence and the space to write and create. I didn’t waste my time," he told Magic Breakfast.
His Crooner Sessions were a light in a time of darkness, and although Gary hopes he'll never have to do another one as they're reserved for lockdown only, he did hint a Las Vegas Residency might be on the way.
The band will be joined by special guests including singer Anne-Marie, DJ and Producer Nathan Dawe and rapper MoStack and Craig David. Gary hopes if they make more shows, they can have an audience. We'll be the first in line for tickets!
I'm With The Band airs on Friday, 4 June at 10:45PM on BBC One.