Take That are one of the best-known names in British pop, but the group performing today is not the same five-piece that dominated the charts in the 1990s. The current lineup consists of Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald. Robbie Williams and Jason Orange, both former members, are no longer part of the band.
The group formed in Manchester in 1990 and became one of the defining British pop acts of the decade, according to the band’s history on Wikipedia. Since then, the band has gone through a split, a reunion and several changes to its roster.
For anyone asking who is in Take That now, who was there at the start, and when the lineup shifted, the answers come down to a small set of names and dates.
Who Are the Current Members of Take That?
- Take That currently operate as a trio: Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald.
- The original five-member lineup also included Robbie Williams and Jason Orange.
- Robbie Williams left in 1995, before the band’s 1996 split.
- He returned for a period from 2010 to 2012, the only time all five original members performed together again.
- Jason Orange left in 2014, nearly a decade after the 2005 reunion.
- Gary Barlow has remained the group’s lead singer and primary songwriter throughout.
| Member | Primary role | Status | Active periods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gary Barlow | Lead vocals, songwriting | Current member | 1990–1996, 2005–present |
| Mark Owen | Vocals | Current member | 1990–1996, 2005–present |
| Howard Donald | Vocals, dance | Current member | 1990–1996, 2005–present |
| Robbie Williams | Vocals | Former member | 1990–1995, 2010–2012 |
| Jason Orange | Dance, vocals | Former member | 1990–1996, 2005–2014 |
| Take That (band) | — | Active as a trio | Formed 1990 in Manchester |
Take That remain together and active. Since 2014, the band has worked as a trio, and that lineup has been stable ever since. Gary Barlow continues to lead the group as its main vocalist and songwriter, with Mark Owen and Howard Donald alongside him.
Who Were the Original Members of Take That?
The original lineup was Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Mark Owen, Robbie Williams and Jason Orange. The band’s official website describes how manager Nigel Martin-Smith assembled the final five-piece lineup after adding Jason Orange and Howard Donald to the original trio of Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams.
Who Made Up the Original Lineup?
In the early years, Gary Barlow was the lead singer and primary songwriter. Howard Donald and Jason Orange were initially mainly dancers, while Mark Owen and Robbie Williams provided backing vocals. Those roles are described consistently across Wikipedia and the official band site.
What Was the Band Called Before Take That?
The group did not always carry the Take That name. According to HelloRay’s music coverage, the band initially performed as “The Cutest Rush” and later used “Kick It” before settling on Take That.
The group first existed as a trio of Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams. Howard Donald and Jason Orange joined later, completing the five-member Take That lineup assembled under Nigel Martin-Smith.
Why Did Robbie Williams and Jason Orange Leave Take That?
The two departures came almost two decades apart, and the public record is clearer on timing than on the private details.
Why Did Robbie Williams Leave in 1995?
Multiple sources state that Robbie Williams left Take That in 1995, ahead of the band’s split in 1996. ERR News lists the departure as one of the key moments in the band’s history. The reasons behind his exit are not fully documented in public records, though he later built a major solo career.
Did Robbie Williams Rejoin Take That?
Yes, for a limited period. Robbie Williams returned for reunion activity from 2010 to 2012, which included the Progress album and tour. According to Songfacts, that reunion marked the only time after his 1995 departure that all five original members performed together again.
Why Did Jason Orange Leave in 2014?
Jason Orange left Take That in 2014, after the band had already been back together for nearly a decade. BBC News reported on the departure, and the announcement was made public at the time. His exit left the group as a trio.
The timing of both exits is well established, but the private reasons behind them have never been fully set out in public. Robbie Williams’s 1995 departure and Jason Orange’s 2014 exit are confirmed events without a complete primary account.
When Did Take That Change Their Lineup?
The sequence of lineup changes is well documented, and each shift follows a clear pattern.
- : Take That forms in Manchester with the five original members.
- : Robbie Williams leaves the group.
- : The original-era group splits.
- : The band reunites, with the founding members as the base lineup.
- –: Robbie Williams is back in the group for a period.
- : Jason Orange leaves, confirming the trio lineup.
These milestones are consistent across reporting from Songfacts, ERR News and the band’s official channels.
Take That today are three people: Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald. The full five-member lineup existed from 1990 until 1995, and again only during the 2010–2012 reunion period.
Are Take That Still Together?
Yes. Take That continue to record and tour as a trio, and the current lineup has been in place since 2014. The band’s official website remains the primary source for information on the current lineup and official announcements.
| Established information | Information that remains unclear |
|---|---|
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Is Take That a Trio or a Quintet?
Take That have existed in both formats. They launched as a five-member group, became a four-piece after Robbie Williams left in 1995, and then split in 1996. The 2005 reunion restored the four-piece lineup, with Williams absent.
Since 2014, the band has operated as a trio. The group’s chart history, tracked by the Official Charts Company, reflects the commercial peak of the original era. The Progress project in the early 2010s showed that the quintet format could still work commercially, but Robbie Williams’s return was temporary, and the five-member lineup has not performed together since.
For a separate feature on a defining figure in British music history, see George Harrison – Life, Death, and Lasting Legacy.
What Have the Members Said About Leaving Take That?
The most direct public statement came from Jason Orange when he announced his exit. His words were widely reported at the time.
“I have decided I no longer wish to be in the band.”
Jason Orange, departure statement, 2014
For Robbie Williams, the public record is less complete. No detailed statement from the time of his 1995 exit is publicly available. NME, which has followed the band throughout its career, provides extensive coverage of the lineup changes. Gary Barlow has also spoken about the current trio lineup in recent interviews.
Who Is Still in Take That?
Take That in are Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald. Robbie Williams left in 1995 and returned only for the 2010–2012 Progress period. Jason Orange left in 2014. The trio has been the band’s active lineup ever since, and it remains the group’s only current form. For a closer look at one of the three members, see Mark Owen Take That – Age, Wife, Children and Career Timeline.
What Else Do Fans Ask About the Take That Lineup?
When did Take That form?
Take That formed in Manchester in 1990. Manager Nigel Martin-Smith assembled the five-member lineup, and some accounts trace the group’s origins to the previous year.
How many members are in Take That?
Three. Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald are the current members. Robbie Williams and Jason Orange are former members.
How many albums have Take That released?
Take That have released eight studio albums, including their most recent, “This Life” (2023).
What is Take That’s biggest hit?
Their best-selling single is “Back for Good” (1995), and their best-selling album is “Progress” (2010), which included all five original members.
Have Take That ever won a Brit Award?
Yes. Take That have won multiple Brit Awards, including Best British Group and Best British Album, as recorded in the official Brit Awards history.
Has Take That ever had a female member?
No. Take That’s lineup has always been all-male, from the original five members through to the current trio.
Who is the lead singer of Take That?
Gary Barlow has been the band’s lead singer and principal songwriter throughout its career.
Is Jason Orange still a member of Take That?
No. Jason Orange left Take That in 2014. The band has continued as a trio since then, with Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald.
Oliver Reeves leads fact-checking, source verification and editorial standards at RegionalReport.co.uk.