Latest News, X Factor 2011 UK

Robbie Praises Gary

Robbie Williams has praised his Take That bandmate Gary Barlow as they work together once again at the Judges’ Houses stage of The X Factor.

The ‘Angels’ singer told The Mirror that he believes Barlow will put more time into his acts than any of the judges have done in the past.

Williams said: “Gary is going to be full-on as a mentor. He’s going to be closer than anyone has been in the past. That’s what is needed. Previously the judges maybe gave them half an hour if they were lucky.”

Meanwhile, Barlow – who is in charge of the boys’ category this year – added that he thinks the time he invests in his chosen contestants will pay dividends as he seeks to impress X Factor viewers.

He said: “You are going to see, for the first time, real mentoring going on, with time being put into these kids, and we are going to see a better quality of act because of it.

“They are going to get a shock, these boys, because this is my first year on the show, so I want to look good, and for people to go, ‘Wow’.”

Of choosing Williams to support him at the Judges’ Houses stage, Barlow explained: “He seemed like the obvious one. I knew he loved the show. He has done since day one. He watches it all, Jersey Shore, all the crap telly, he loves it. And so I knew he was a big fan of X Factor.

“When we were on tour with Take That, I said to him, ‘I need someone for Judges’ Houses, what do you reckon?’ I thought he wouldn’t be too into it but he was like, ‘Please let me’. Then he invited me to his house to stay while we do it.”

Barlow also added that he has a “weekly schedule” planned out for his contestants on their return from LA.

Tags: gary barlow, robbie williams, x factor 2011