Mark Owen suffers pre-tour panic

The sell-out tour will be the first with Robbie Williams since he left the band in 1995, and Owen admitted he has been getting last-minute jitters ahead of its kick-off.

He told Music Week: 'A few weeks ago I had a pre-tour panic, a bit of a meltdown, which I went through for a couple of days. Not much sleep, but I came through the other end and I've been all right since. But we're confident with it now and I think the show's going to be brilliant.'

But it is different story for bandmate Williams. 'We're having to hold him back,” Owen said. “Rob says, 'Come on guys, let's get on with it'. We've all got enthusiasm to do a great show and that's what we've always prided ourselves on.'

He added that the group has fallen victim to the odd spat during rehearsals because they all have such different ideas for the show.

'There are certain members of us who push the theatrics more than the others and it's trying to find that happy medium where everybody's comfortable,” he said.

'We're like kids really. We're all a bit excited about life and the tour and I'm really proud of what we've achieved. I hope everyone enjoys it.'