Robbie Williams Reflects on Success and Self-Devaluation in Music

Fri Feb 06 2026 00:31:00 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In an exclusive interview, Robbie Williams discusses his return to the spotlight with a new album, the legacy of Britpop, and his thoughts on British self-criticism.

Robbie Williams, the iconic British singer, is back on tour following the release of his new album 'Britpop', which has made him the record holder for the most number one albums, surpassing The Beatles. In a candid interview, he reflects on the complexities of success, the influence of British culture on self-worth, and his personal journey through mental health struggles. Williams expresses excitement about reconnecting with his roots as he performs at smaller venues, reminiscent of his early career, and shares his future aspirations including plans to build entertainment venues and revolutionize education.

After more than three decades in entertainment, Robbie Williams is back on the road and ready to celebrate.

His new album, Britpop, is his 16th number one, breaking the previous record set by the Beatles.

The singer, whose Long 90s tour begins this week, is taking a moment to mark his achievement.

I think as British people we're very good at piercing the balloon of our own success and undercutting it and devaluing ourselves, he tells BBC News. It's what we do best. In many ways it's why we're great.

But with this one, I really want to let it sink in and I really want to stand in the middle of it and go, 'OK, success, do your thing to me'.

The tour will take in smaller venues, the kind he would have played at the start of his solo stardom.

The 51-year-old says Britpop is the album he wanted to make when he first left Take That.

It sees him collaborate with former bandmate Gary Barlow, Gaz Coombes from Supergrass and Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi.

But he looks back at the Britpop era with mixed feelings - he experienced professional huge success, but was also deeply depressed.

He recalls: I was going through my own mental illness and anything good that's happening to somebody that is in the throes of depression... they can't experience joy.

Williams has spoken openly about suffering from stage fright in the past but credits the birth of his daughter in 2012 with helping him regain perspective, saying, The world started to make sense because I'd been running away from responsibility and I should have been running towards it.

He also shares that he feels much happier being back in the UK after facing tumultuous experiences with the British press earlier in his career. However, he's in a different place now and is enjoying the freedom to focus on his music and family.

Looking towards the future, Williams expresses a desire to expand his artistic reach, saying, I want to build hotels with my own venues in them and then I want to play my own hotels. He is also contemplating a 'university of entertainment' that would reinvent education.

Britpop by Robbie Williams is out now. The Long 90s tour began earlier this week.