<P> Take That are an English pop group formed in Manchester in 1990 . The group currently consists of Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen . The original line - up also featured Jason Orange and Robbie Williams . Barlow acts as the group's lead singer and primary songwriter, with Owen and Williams initially providing backing vocals and Donald and Orange serving primarily as dancers . </P> <P> The group have had 28 top 40 singles and 17 top 5 singles in the United Kingdom, 12 of which have reached number one, as well as having seven number one albums . Internationally, the band have had 56 number one singles and 37 number one albums . They have received eight Brit Awards--winning awards for Best British Group and Best British Live Act . </P> <P> Williams left the band in 1995 while the four remaining members completed their world tour and released a final single before splitting up in 1996 . After filming a 2005 documentary about the group and releasing a new greatest hits album, a four - piece Take That without Williams officially announced a 2006 reunion tour around the UK, entitled The Ultimate Tour . On 9 May 2006, it was announced that the group were set to record new material together once again; their fourth studio album, Beautiful World, was released in 2006 and was followed up with The Circus, in 2008 . The group achieved new success as a four - piece, scoring a string of chart hits across the UK and Europe while selling over 45 million records worldwide . </P> <P> Williams rejoined Take That in 2010 for the band's sixth studio album, Progress . Released on 15 November of that year, it was the first album of new material to feature Take That's original line - up since their 1995 album, Nobody Else . It became the fastest - selling album of the 21st century and the second fastest - selling album in British history . </P>

When did take that split up for the first time