Take That are finally ready to unveil their first album in five years with its “emotional” lead single set to debut next week. 

Following a summer of shows, Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald are set to release their first original material since 2017’s ‘Wonderland’, with the former opening up about the project at an event for his Gary Barlow Organic Wines. 

“It sounds really different and emotional and fitting for where we are now in our lives,” he said (via Daily Star Wired). “We are very proud.

“Only four days ago we were shooting a video for our new single which is going to be played next week sometime.

“On Radio 2 at the end of next week but we are so excited. Obviously it has been quite a few years since we had new music.

“I think 2017 was our last official new music and this one I am so excited for you to hear.”

Earlier this year, Take That confirmed they’d inked a new record deal with EMI for their new material, having previously been signed to Polydor. 

Speaking about the new label deal, Take That – who will also headline American Express presents BST Hyde Park on July 1 – said: “It’s very clear that [EMI co-presidents Rebecca Allen and Jo Charrington] and all the team at EMI share our love and passion for music, and our ambition, and we are very excited about working together.” (via Music Week)

Their manager, Chris Dempsey, went on to reveal the album will follow in the final quarter of 2023 “in addition to some more catalogue moments”. 

“We have big touring plans for 2024,” he added. 

The group have been in the studio over the past few months working on tracks for the record, with Howard Donald teasing the new material in a chat with BBC Radio 2. 

“We went out to Savannah to actually record an album,” he shared. “We all did all our own stuff and we wrote together. We’re pretty much in there, now. We’re not far from being finished.”

On the sound of the LP, he added: “We’re very excited because it’s kind of a new direction for us as well. There’s some cracking songs, well, I’ve got to say that. It’s sounding absolutely brilliant.”