Exclusive: Gary Barlow says Take That knew Jason would leave as early as the 2012 Olympics

27 September 2018, 12:40 | Updated: 28 September 2018, 10:23

September 25, 2014 was a sad day for Take That fans everywhere.

It was the day that Jason Orange announced that he had decided to leave the band, but the boys apparently knew quite a while before.

Speaking to Smooth Radio's Margherita Taylor, Gary Barlow revealed that Take That had a feeling that Jason's last ever performance with the group was at the 2012 Olympics Closing Ceremony in London.

Exclusive: Gary Barlow says new album and tour is 'the end of Take That Part II'

"In a strange way, we sort of semi-knew it would be Jason's last show with us," he said.

"We sort of semi-knew that, I think. We expected it. We would have all been surprised if he had carried on, he really wanted out at that point.

"It meant a lot of things, that evening."

Take That are heading out on a Greatest Hits Live tour in 2019, and will also release an epic compilation titled Odyssey in November.

You can catch Gary's full chat with Margherita in Take That at 30, a special programme celebrating 30 years of the band, on Sunday (September 30) at 9pm on Smooth Radio.