30 Reasons Why We Love Gary Barlow
We cannot contain our lust any longer! We must give in and confess our newly-discovered, undying devotion to the formerly slightly dumpy Take That star, who, with a sprinkling of X Factor magic and a five o'clock shadow, has transformed into serious crush material - and a strong Sexiest Men 2012 contender to boot. Why? Get a load of this…
PA PhotosWe have to admit – when we found out the entire judging panel of our favourite talent show The X Factor would be chopped up and rearranged for the 2011 series, our hearts sunk low and heavy. That was until we found out that Take That’s Gary Barlow had clambered into the driving seat, injecting some much-needed sex appeal, honesty and side lean into the show. We didn’t think it was possible for it to get any better, but armed with this new man candy scowling away live on telly, the whole competition catapulted up a gear.
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
Rex FeaturesLet’s not forget that, aside from his dashing good looks (we’ll overlook the early 2000s bin man chic for a moment), Gary Barlow is an extremely talented man. He was the main songwriter, singer and musician in Take That, penning classic tracks such as Back For Good, Never Forget and Pray, as well as several solo hits, and a number of chart toppers for other artists, including X Factor winner Matt Cardle.
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
Getty ImagesWe’re pretty sure he’s the only one that pulled off the spiky blonde flat top in the early 90s and got away with it. Back of the class, Chris Packham!
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
PA PhotosAnd these shoes, too. Fluro-blue desert boots are probably illegal in some parts of the world, but Gary carries them off with ease.
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
RedfernsGazza B really is willing to give anything a go, proved here, when he wore a plaid dressing gown and military boots on tour with Take That in 1995. A fine quality in a man indeed.
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
Rex FeaturesHe’s got a great sense of humour, too, demonstrated when we wore this groin-illuminating Robin suit to Elton John’s 50th birthday party in 1997. “Can you feel the love tonight?” he sang. “Yes. Yes we can,” we chorused in reply.
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
Rex FeaturesBarlow has an uncanny ability to turn even the most tedious of household items – door frames included – into steamy photo opportunities. Note here: the X Factor side lean in its earliest stage of development.
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
Rex FeaturesLet’s face it – he looks a bit like a bear. Especially in brown corduroy. And that kind of cuteness simply can’t be ignored.
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
Rex FeaturesThat voice! Simple, well-executed, velvety smoothness, coated in a silky layer of northern charm and topped off with a note-hitting side of raw talent. No wonder his solo career was such a success.
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
Rex FeaturesDid you know that, as a teen in 1986, Gary reached the semi-finals of the BBC Pebble Mill At One songwriting competition, which inspired him to tour the northern clubs as a solo performer under the stage name Kurtis Rush? Kurtis Rush! How could we not love someone who called himself Kurtis Rush.
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
PA PhotosGary Barlow has always stood by his fellow Take That band members, even when they were embroiled in the most cringe-worthy of scandals. Take little Marky Owen’s confession to having no less than ten affairs during his marriage to wife, Emma. We gasp and gossip – Gary stands by his man. A true friend.
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
PA PhotosHis ability to forgive and forget even extended to former bandmate Robbie Williams, who left Take That in 1995 under a cloud of controversy. The pair feuded for many years, until last year, after reaching out to Robbie in LA, they let bygones be bygones, prompting one of the best pop reunions in recent history.
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
Rex FeaturesHis ‘givin’ it some’ face. Look at it. Just look. How could you not love that face?
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
Rex FeaturesLike a fine wine or gourmet cheese, Gary Barlow has continued to improve with age, growing ever more fanciful as the years roll by, no matter who he stands next to.
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
Rex FeaturesAnd he loves his fans almost as much as we love him, too. Gary always makes time to greet his enthusiasts, signing autographs for hours on the red carpet before entering an event. Here, he’s pictured with an uncanny soft toy replica of himself outside the Radio 1 studios in 2008.
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
Rex FeaturesThat get off the chair as soon as the key changes thing boy bands do near the end of a song? Gary B OWNS that move. We’re pretty sure he has the patent documents to prove it, too.
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
PA PhotosThat slightly sarcastic eyebrow thing he does? The words ‘shivers’ and ‘spine’ spring to mind…
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
Rex FeaturesEver seen a man make a suit look quite so dashing? Nope, neither have we. Take note, men in our lives…
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
Rex FeaturesThe heartfelt emotion he puts into each and every performance, evident here by the positioning of hand over the chest, the lowering of eyebrows and the deep concentration behind the eyes. We hope you’re watching, Frankie Cocozza!
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
Rex FeaturesHe’s the only guy we’re OK with wearing a low-cut V-neck T-shirt. He’s got just the right amount of chest fluff to stop him from slipping into medallion man territory. That’s a skill right there.
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
Rex FeaturesIf there was a gold medal for waistcoat wearing without looking like a page boy, Gary Barlow would win it every single year. He slipped this little grey number over a casual T at the Manchester X Factor auditions to great sartorial effect. Bravo!
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
Rex FeaturesHis steely determination and business mind is one of the reasons Gary Barlow is so successful. It’s also one of the reasons he decided to work on his own record label – Future Records – in 2009. Moguls are hot. Fact.
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
Rex FeaturesFinally – the moment we’ve all been waiting for: the side lean. We don’t know where it came from, or why he does it every time a contestant performs on the X Factor, but by Jove, we’re glad it exists. Fit. Fit. Fitter still.
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
Rex FeaturesHis strong, ruthlessly supportive mentoring style. Those X Factor boys are in seriously good hands.
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
Rex FeaturesLet’s not forget his candid, firm but fair approach to judging, too. No one's critique is quite so cutting...
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
Rex Features…But no one’s praise is quite so honest, meaningful and heartfelt, either. The perfect judge? We think so.
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
PA PhotosThe five o’clock shadow. Strangely alluring. We wish more men could make less grooming effort look this good.
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
Rex FeaturesPlus, he’s the type of guy you could take out to dinner with your parents, and be certain he’d schmooze the pants off of them. Then ask for your hand in marriage. Well, in our fantasy anyway.
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
Rex FeaturesHe’s not afraid to make a statement, either. Check out this bold claim he put out there, using the medium of a mug, on the first X Factor live show. We wonder whatKelly, Louis and Tulisa made of that?
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
Rex FeaturesGah! He’s such a dream boat, isn’t he? Forget it, we don’t need another reason. We love you Gary Barlow!
SEXIEST MEN 2011 – THE RESULTS
THE X FACTOR – GET ALL THE GOSSIP HERE
TAKE THAT – CAREER IN PICS
