Review: Take That at Manchester Arena - two down, but the lads have still got the magic

They’re back in their home city for five nights to celebrate 30 years of music - and after three decades Take That have still got that magic.

They might be two members down these days - and they’ve come a long way since the jelly, mops and codpieces - but the ultimate boyband turned manband Howard Donald, Gary Barlow and Mark Owen are still making us swoon.

They’ve had some stunning staging on their many tours over the years, but the backdrop for this greatest hits showcase, joyously supported by Rick Astley (who says he has a tickle in his throat tonight, but sounds fantastic) is quite aptly a massive disco ball.

The giant orb from the cover of their Odyssey album revolves and the lads appear before us at a dizzying height singing their fist-pumping anthem Greatest Day to 17,000 people.

Then it’s time to Take That And Party with It Only Takes A Minute and Could It Be Magic (performed in superhero capes with Mark on lead vocals) with hook-laden recent hit These Days, an upbeat nod to their future as a trio, rippling in between.

But then the rug is ripped from under our dancing feet with a blast from the past - former member Robbie on the big screen singing 1993 hit Everything Changes in new footage, which moves some fans to tears.

The Motown-esque song is arguably one of his finest moments in the band he left in 1995 and briefly returned to for the Progress album in 2010, and will always have a place in their hearts.

The tears flow again when a clip of Jason Orange playing the guitar is beamed on the screen to the lyrics.

“Sometimes I see your face, looking at me, all your love and grace smiling at me.

“All the things we had and never understood.”

And there’s another 30th birthday surprise for us all in the shape of Lulu to belt out their 1993 collaboration Relight My Fire with an updated Daft Punk soundalike noodly twist.

The trio, resembling racing drivers in shiny blue tracksuits, each play instruments and take turns on lead vocals.

Mark on glorious new track Everlasting crowns his finest live moment since Hold Up A Light on The Circus Live tour. 

Mr Barlow has never sounded better, especially on the gospel banger Cry. And Howard sounds great on The Flood and his anthem, Never Forget as well as sporting the baggiest trousers in pop.

They prove they’ve still got the moves and then some as they turn up the heat in the arena during saucy 90s hit Sure. 

They swap the hot air balloon and giant elephant from The Circus and the flying tandem bike from 2015’s Take That Live tour for a mean and moody look on motorbikes- with a return of the black biker jacket from the Do What You Like days for Gary as they head out into an imaginary desert.

As well as delicious pop, the heart-rending ballads Back For Good and Said It All are here and it’s difficult not to feel 13 again as Mark sparks nostalgia with Babe. And there’s a beautiful new version of Pray performed using sign language.

In between songs we’re treated to sound clips of the boys from back in the day, bringing us from past to present.

The show brings to life last year’s Odyssey, a stunning reimagining of their greatest hits collection produced by Grammy-winning Stuart Price also known for his work with Madonna, The Killers and Kylie Minogue, and it proves why they’re still going strong today.

Here’s to another 30 years in the business.

Limited tickets are available for their shows at Manchester Arena on April 23, 25-27 and UK tour from Ticketmaster here.