By Andrea Magrath


Confidence: Gary Barlow reveals that he gets a kick out of people calling him 'too thin' after a lifelong battle with his weight


He has had women across the country swooning as he deals out stern criticism to the X Factor contestants every Saturday and Sunday night.

But the revelation that many, inlcuding his fellow judge Kelly Rowland, have a crush on him bewilders Gary Barlow, who is still coming to terms with being known as 'the hot one' from Take That, after years of being taunted as 'the fat one.'

Speaking to this week's Grazia, the 40-year-old reveals: 'I'm at a weight that I'm just so bloody happy with and I feel amazing. I'm full of confidence.


'It's going to sound shallow, but being happy with the way I look makes me spring out of bed in the morning and want to live life.'

Barlow's weight famously ballooned a he battle depression after Take That's break-up in 1996.

But he is currently on a high following the band's hugely successful reunion tour with Robbie Williams and a critically-acclaimed album.

'Weight has always been my enemy': Barlow pictured a decade ago on a family holiday when he was at his heaviest


In an interview with the magazine, Barlow credits his wife of 11 years, Dawn, with supporting him through the highs and lows.

'I knew she was the one for me because she understands me,' he says, revealing that he proposed over Chinese takeaway after pestering her to marry him for four years.

'She has known me through thick and thin. She has known me at 17 stone, when nobody wanted to call me anymore.

Dark days: Gary, pictured in 1998, admits he battled depression and overeating after the band broke up in 1996


'Dawn knows how weight has always been my enemy, how with every mouthful of food I have always felt guilty.

'I've actually had major problems with food for years and years. I realised that once I started to eat I couldn't stop.'

Gary admits he gets doesn't mind people going so far as to say he's lost too much weight.

'I can't say I don't get a little kick out of it. Me, too thin ... will wonders ever cease?'

Back on top: Gary began shedding pounds again when Take That reformed in 2005


But he won't become so vain that he'll follow in his boss Simon Cowell's footsteps.

'I'm not bothered about (Botox)' he tells Grazia. 'I'm bothered about how I feel.

I'm light on my feet at the moment. I can spring around, play football with the kids, I can put on a suit and say "I look nice."'

Barlow admits that the ratings battle has him sweating every week.

'There's no question that every week when I'm waiting for the text with the ratings I'm s****ing myself. I want it to be great.'

Barlow, who said his only contact with show supremo Cowell was an 'occasional text', added it was 'a very aggressive show to be on'.

Terrified: Gary Barlow has admitted he struggles with nerves while waiting to find out how well X Factor has done in the ratings battle


He said: 'Simon (Cowell) warned me very early that I was strapping myself into a rollercoaster.

On Sunday night, The X Factor soundly beat Strictly Come Dancing in the ratings after the BBC show beat the ITV show on Saturday.

On Sunday the X Factor got an average audience of about 12million and Strictly got 10.7million.

Meanwhile, Barlow also spoke about his battle with his weight, saying he finds it funny that people have commented that he now looks too thin.


Last chance: Gary with his last remaining contestant, Marcus Collins



source:dailymail