Gary Barlow is back for good

The Take That and X-Factor star’s second solo career is bound to be a success.

He’s one of the most talented songwriters of our generation, responsible for 11 No. 1 singles.

So you’d think Gary Barlow would be looking at tomorrow’s launch of his new album, called Since I Saw You Last, full of confidence it will be a success.

I had an exclusive chat with Gary on the set of his latest single, Let Me Go. Unbelievably, the man behind Take That is a bit nervous.

Gary and I first met before he made it big with the world famous boy band. We had lunch after their first single flopped and he was worried Take That would be dropped.

My reassurances were justified then but, despite his amazing success in the last two decades, I found myself trying to convince Gary he would be a success again recently in New York.

The video for his new single, Let Me Go, was shot in Brooklyn.

We had a chinwag afterwards and he revealed his apprehension about his second go at a solo career.

After Take That split up, there was a much-hyped rivalry between Barlow and his bandmate Robbie Williams.

Gary started off well his first two singles went to No. 1 and the album sold two million copies but, gradually, things petered out and he concentrated on songwriting.

That’s perhaps where the doubts come from.

I told him that he didn’t need to worry though. The new album is a fantastic collection of songs.

And I don’t just say that as someone who counts Gary as a friend. I’ve been very fortunate to be pals with him for a few years now.

After his first solo career, Gary moved to the USA and that’s when we became mates.

Before Take That got back together he played me the song Patience and asked me what I thought.

“Oh my goodness me,” were my first words. It was one of those songs you knew was going to go to No. 1.

Of course, it was Take That’s comeback single and it shot them back to the top of the charts.

Since then they’ve sold millions more records, Robbie rejoined the band and they’ve had umpteen sold-out nights at Wembley.

Gary joining X Factor was another good move he’s funny, insightful and straight-talking.

But the solo career is him moving out of his comfort zone again. He’s away from Take That and on his own.

I reckon he’ll be fine, though. Gary is a changed man these days, with a wife and three kids.

He’s hopefully a bit more aware of his talents. I genuinely believe he’s one of the finest songwriters in the world today.

After Take That split I remember sitting down for dinner with Gary in Las Vegas. Back For Good had come out, which is just an incredible song.

He was quite downbeat about it, though, and regarded it as a throwaway boyband song. But, to me it shows the depth of his talents.

The new song is just more of Gary, although he told me it was influenced by the likes of Johnny Cash.

“It’s a bit different for me,” he said. “People think of ballads when they hear I’m releasing a new record.

“Let Me Go is not a ballad, it’s a really up-tempo song. I’ve never done anything like this before.

“Maybe there’s a reason for that?”

His new video was a good laugh. In it, Gary pushes a piano through the streets of Brooklyn. It’s supposed to elicit a few stares but, New York being New York, nobody batted an eyelid.

After a while the director was telling Gary to bump into people with the piano just so someone would look!

“I couldn’t do that at home,” he said when I asked him about filming the video in the streets.

“A few people know me back there. It was freedom. No one knew who I was. It was great!”

Gary took a wee bit of stick from me too when I reminded him of his . . . erm . . . “acting” career he made a cameo in the 1990s drama Heartbeat.

It was two performances in one his first and last!

“I have to agree,” he laughed. “I don’t think that performance had any heartbeat in it at all!”