3 weeks ago
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Howard Donald took a somewhat shaky trip down memory lane while preparing for Take That's latest stadium tour on Thursday.
The three-piece will be travelling the United Kingdom and Ireland over the summer of 2026 after announcing plans to revive one of their favourite tours in conjunction with the release of a new album.
Named in part after their 2008 album, The Circus: Live became the fastest-selling tour in history with over 600,000 tickets sold in under five hours following its original launch in 2009.
The band, comprised of Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald, are now hoping to replicate that success by dusting off the elaborate stage sets, costumes and props they used to great effect across 20 sold out dates - among them Howard's unicycle.
Taking to Instagram on Thursday morning, the singer, 57, proved he'd lost none of his agility while practicing on the potentially hazardous one-wheeler for the first time in 26 years.
Fortunately for Howard, he managed to stay upright after pulling away from wife Katie Halil, who timed him as he rode unassisted through a rehearsal room corridor.
Howard Donald took a somewhat shaky trip down memory lane while preparing for Take That's latest stadium tour on Thursday
Evidently pleased with the effort, he joked: 'There you go, it's like riding a bike!'
Bandmate Gary, 54, also confirmed he's pulling out all the stops to get in shape ahead of the band's huge stadium dates next summer 2026.
On Monday, the singer took to his Instagram Stories to document his efforts at luxury London wellness clinic Lanserhof at The Arts Club, where annual memberships start at an eye-watering £6,500 - plus a £1,500 joining fee.
In one snap, Gary could be seen wearing a VO2 max mask as he jogged on a treadmill, dressed down in casual workout gear.
Another showed him on a treadmill, with the accompanying caption: '6 months to go to the Circus Tour.'
Take That confirmed in September that they would return to the road in summer 2026, with a brand-new album set to follow later in the year.
Gary, Mark Owen and Howard Donald first staged it in 2009, and it became the fastest-selling tour in history, with over 600,000 tickets sold in under 5 hours - however, Jason Orange will not be joining them this time after leaving the band in 2014.
Now, after 17-years, the trio are back 'bigger and bolder' with the show that featured fire-breathers, stilt-walkers and a huge 30-foot-tall mechanical elephant, which carried them through the audience.
Howard was supported by wife Katie Halil as he prepared to cycle across a rehearsal room corridor after returning to the unicycle for the first time since 2009
The singer rehearsed on Thursday (left) some 26 years after his last appearance on a unicycle (pictured right, onstage during The Circus Tour in 2009)
Fortunately for Howard, he managed to stay upright after pulling away from Katie, who timed him as he rode unassisted through a rehearsal room corridor
Following the announcement, the band said: 'The Circus tour was one of our favourite experiences as a band and, in the years since, we've talked many times about how much we'd love to do it again one day.
'Well, that time has come! We're so excited to welcome audiences old and new across the UK and Ireland to the spectacle of The Circus Live next summer. See you out there!'
The tour kick off in Southampton on May 29, before Coventry, Sunderland, Glasgow, Cardiff, Manchester, as well as two nights at the London Stadium, where the band performed as part of the 2012 Olympics.
The Circus: Live will see the band perform the original 2009 set-list, but promise a few new surprises along the way.
Irish band The Script, who supported Take That on the original tour, will return also as guests for their UK shows, alongside Belinda Carlisle.
Bandmate Gary Barlow has also been putting in the hard yards as the band gear up for their forthcoming tour
The singer took to his Instagram Stories to document his efforts at luxury London wellness clinic Lanserhof at The Arts Club, where annual memberships start at an eye-watering £6,500
Speaking on HEART 90s with Kevin Hughes, Gary said the band's new album, which will be their tenth, will be released at the 'end of next year'.
'We are creating right now. So, we’re hoping to throw a new one in there somewhere, maybe towards the end.
'But yeah, excited for next year. Definitely in that album mode at the moment.
'You know, hopefully the end of next year, we'll have something to show. But, yeah, working on it right now.'
Bandmate Mark added: 'I know, it is incredible. And so, we're excited about it. We want to do something really special. We're talking a lot about the next record, the sound, the feel.
'The lovely thing in many ways is that we know we’re going to be together trying to ride unicycles, trying to make a record.'
English (US)