Inside Robbie Williams' tumultuous time with Take That as Better Man hits cinemas

Robbie Williams has opened up about his departure from Take That, attributing it to his excessive drinking and drug use, which he was told was "not how you behave in a boy band".

In his Netflix documentary which aired last year, the 49 year old singer candidly shared: "I was ingesting everything I could get my hands on: cocaine, drinking... I [was] literally drinking a bottle of vodka a night before going into rehearsals."

He further revealed that he was accused of "letting the side down" due to his wild behaviour and was repeatedly urged to "behave" at meetings. His life is now being revisited on the big screen again, this time in the semi-biographical film Better Man, out in cinemas today.

"I was told this is not how you behave in a boyband. The sense that I, essentially, I wasn't ready or capable to fulfil the role that was being asked of me was palpable," the Let Me Entertain You star reflected.

The situation reached a climax during a band meeting when he confessed to the other four members - Jason Orange, Howard Donald, Mark Owen and Gary Barlow - that he "just couldn't be there anymore", reports the Express.

The remaining members expressed their willingness to continue touring "as a four-piece" and sought his opinion. Robbie, who had reportedly missed crucial rehearsals due to prioritising partying, agreed to leave the band.

The then fresh-faced star departed in July 1995, leaving some hardcore fans heartbroken. He remained silent for a year before releasing a cover version of George Michael's Freedom as his first solo song.

Robbie Williams has spoken openly about how his time partying with Oasis sparked a newfound passion for songwriting as he moved away from the discord within his prior group, now just a "painful