Tom Dunne: He mightn't really be Britpop, but you should still let Robbie Williams entertain you

Robbie Williams has beaten the Beatles in terms of number one albums. Obviously, it's not a valid comparison, but the ex Take That man has made the most of his talents

Robbie Williams at Croke Park last year. On one day in 2006 he sold 1.6 million tickets. Picture: Gareth Chaney

Wed, 28 Jan, 2026 - 21:00

Tom Dunne

Tom Dunne is a music-lover extraordinaire who, as well as presenting radio and TV shows, can also be seen in the wild as the lead singer with Something Happens.

Robbie Williams’ new album is called Britpop. It is his 16th UK number one. He has now overtaken The Beatles. He says it’s the album he should have made in 1997, when he was, you know, Britpop. But I think if he had made this album then, The Beatles would still be safe.

The album he did make back then, the non-Britpop adjacent Life Thru a Lens, featured Angels and sold three million. It was the beginning of his ubiquitousness. It made him bigger than Britpop. But bigger than The Beatles? We didn’t see that coming.