Robbie's the one

There is no doubting Robbie William’s status as the crown prince of pop - millions of fans adore him and he has recently landed the biggest record deal in British music history.

The 29-year-old star, who first found fame and fortune as a member of the boy band Take That, is unsurprisingly delighted with his success. His record deal is reportedly worth a staggering £80m (€126.5m).

He says: “There’s been a lot written about this deal and understandably, it’s a big deal, do you know what I mean?

“But I’ve got money, I always have had. I’ve had enough to do whatever I want. I don’t feel any richer, but I’m not giving it back. You know, it’s a deal. I’ve got an amazing [new] album. I’m very proud of who I am. I’m very proud of what I do.”

However, Williams sounds much more unsure about how he is going to spend his new-found millions: “I’m a celebrity – we have many divorces. A lot of it will go to future ex-wives.” he initially quips, before admitting: “I don’t know what I’ll do with the money.

“I’ve got a pair of jeans. I’ve got a pair of trainers. I’ve got some nice suits. I don’t feel the need for many cars, you can only ride in one.”

The singer’s latest album, Escapology, has just hit the top of the charts. He will also release a new single called Feel on December 2 and has a European and British tour planned for next year.

But despite his cheeky smile, it seems he is not quite as certain of himself as you might suppose.

He says, albeit jokingly: “People should come and see me soon because I think after this tour and album, it’s all downhill. I genuinely do think this is the pinnacle of my career right now and people should catch me while I’m hot or come down and see the holiday shows at Butlins with Oasis in five years.”

What’s more, the entertainer says his jovial image is often a front and he has developed a metaphorical shield to protect himself.

“I know how to get into the light and make my eyes shine and I know how to smile,” he says.

“Sometimes I’m really acting because you just can’t feel it every night, and I’m not there to be entertained, they [the audience] are. The entertainer with the big cheeky smile, it’s all protection.”

This man of contrasts is enigmatic when it comes to his love life. In recent months he has been dating Rod Stewart’s ex-wife, the model Rachel Hunter, and the couple were even pictured in romantic embraces around a swimming pool in Los Angeles.

But when he is asked what qualities he looks for in his ideal woman, he replies: “When she comes along, I’ll tell you.”

Williams admits he is amused reading stories about the women who have allegedly inspired some of his songs. They include his ex-fiancee Nicole Appleton and the actress Nicole Kidman who dueted with him on last year’s Christmas No 1.

But he is uncertain how they might react to being connected with his music. “I find it really entertaining actually. I also find it a bit scary too because these people that they say these songs are about, I have to bump into them and they may believe that the songs are about them.”

Williams has recently split from his long term songwriting partner Guy Chambers, whose hits included what is still Williams’s best-known.

He says: “My partnership with Guy unfortunately, for the foreseeable future, has come to an end for reasons I don’t want to get into. It would embarrass him and it would embarrass myself.

“But I can categorically say I never once asked for an exclusivity deal with Guy.”

Ever one to make a joke out of what is a serious matter, Williams cheekily lifts up a glass to cover his mouth, speaks in a different voice and says: ”He’s a man who wanted too much money.”

But one thing that really upsets him is the fact that many people still believe he has little creative input into his music. He says: “Because I’m Robbie Williams who has come from Take That, nobody credits me with anything.

“It’s understandable, I came from a boy band, I wasn’t a proven song-writing talent in that boy band, hence when I leave and create my own albums people automatically assume that a lion’s share of it is done by somebody else.

“I write lyrics, all of them, I write melodies and occasionally I write music.”

But although he wants to be recognised as a creative force, he shows a surprising lack of ambition when it comes to conquering the American music market.

Despite having spent most of this year living in the US, he says: “The absolute truth is I’m really not interested in breaking America, it’s too much hard work. I’ll be a new artist there. I can’t be bothered.”