This week, the gang dives into Better Man, the wild and emotional Robbie Williams biopic directed by The Greatest Showman’s Michael Gracey. Starring Jonno Davies, Steve Pemberton and Alison Steadman, this Oscar-nominated film tells the story of fame, chaos and chimps (yes, really). Before the review, Stacey chats about Benedict Cumberbatch’s The Roses, Ben covers horror hits Under the Shadow and When Evil Lurks, and Harry kicks off a retro binge with the original WipeOut on PS1. As always, it’s a light-hearted, nerdy breakdown packed with laughs, hot takes and plenty of pop-culture chaos.

Jo and Zoe talk about Pretty Face since 20:30 :) I feel a big nostalgia at their words.

Happy to see all these articles even after 1 year of its release!!

“Better Man” is a bold approach on Robbie Williams’ life story From the film “Better Man” By Matthew Palmer PUBLISHED: November 12, 2025 at 12:00 AM EST For those who may not remember, the Robbie Williams biopic, “Better Man,” is a recent release that had an initial wide release this past January. Despite the fact that this movie received glowing reviews, it performed rather poorly in its domestic run, which was ultimately driven by a combination of the subject’s limited fame in the US market, a very high production budget and the unusual concept of using a CGI monkey. So, let’s dive into the recent release – “Better Man.” “Better Man” is based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams. Under the direction of Michael Gracey (“The Greatest Showman”), the film is uniquely told from Robbie’s perspective, capturing his signature wit and indomitable spirit. It follows Robbie’s journey from childhood, to being the youngest member of the British boyband Take That, through his unparalleled achievements as a record-breaking solo artist – all the while confronting the challenges that stratospheric fame and success can bring. Before checking out “Better Man,” I’ll admit I really wasn’t familiar with Robbie Williams at all. Now that I have seen the film, I can say that it can be highly entertaining for the most part and if you do enjoy the works of Robbie Williams, you’ll likely enjoy this biopic. “Better Man” is definitely a bold approach to the music biopic genre since this biopic featured a CGI monkey in place of a human actor. While I was looking around online, I read in an interview that Williams said that he sometimes felt like a “performing monkey” while he performs – hence the CGI chimpanzee that’s used in the film. The CGI monkey can be a little distracting at times and it almost reminds me of one of the CGI chimpanzees from the recent “Planet of the Apes” movies. The Robbie Williams biopic delivers some visually stunning musical numbers that are both really creative and well-choreographed. While fans of Wiliams will likely enjoy all of the musical numbers, the “Rock DJ” and “She’s the One” sequences will really stand out as they both effectively advanced the biopic’s story. The “Rock DJ” sequence is a pivotal moment since it shows his childhood dream of stardom coming true, while the “She’s the One” sequence shows the beginning of his romance with Nicole Appleton, which is intercut with the heartbreaking reality of their relationship. The film’s main emotional core, which focuses on the on-again/off-again relationship with his father and their eventual reconciliation, can create a tear jerking impact for most viewers and their duet at the end can be quite moving. “Better Man” also focuses on Williams’ hardcore drug and alcohol use that spirals out of control as his fame grows. Like I stated before, if you are familiar with Robbie Williams and enjoy his work, then I’m sure you’ll enjoy this film. The overall story can actually get rather emotional and you may get used to the CGI monkey. Trivia: The poster for the movie replicates the same photo utilized for the cover of Robbie Williams’ 1997 debut solo album, “Life Thru A Lens.” The movie arose from multiple interview recordings of director Michael Gracey made with Williams over the course of a year and a half in Williams’ Los Angeles recording studio. The interviews weren’t originally for a movie, as Gracey “just wanted to capture Williams in his own voice telling his story,” but the majority of Williams’ voice in the movie is from these recordings. MPA: Rated R for drug use, pervasive language, sexual content, nudity and some violent content (runtime 135 minutes) (Paramount Plus) “Better Man” is a bold approach on Robbie Williams’ life story – Wyoming County Examiner

Jools Holland - Radio Source https://www.youtube.com/@mezzacapa

Universal Music Publishing Group @UMPG · 9h OTD in 2004: Robbie Williams was among the artists inducted into the UK’s first Music Hall of Fame at a ceremony in London. Source https://www.youtube.com/@joakofz

Source https://www.youtube.com/@HalfThePicturePodcast

One of God's Better People Source https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Nho5FPo__hIFbg_UlaCgA

Last Days of Disco Vocalist: Robbie Williams Producer: Trevor Horn Composer: R Williams Composer: Kelvin Andrews Source https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Nho5FPo__hIFbg_UlaCgA

And even better reaction! So positive person on a video. He really likes Robbie.

Robbie Williams: The Last Pop Star: A biography of the boy from Stoke who sang to the world Kindle Editionby Fergus Ó Conaill (Author) Format: Kindle Edition Robbie Williams: The Last Pop Star A Biography of the boy from Stoke who sang to the world Few artists have defined British pop culture like Robbie Williams. From the screaming hysteria of Take That to his record-breaking solo career, from chart-topping singles like Angels and Rock DJ to his infamous battles with self-doubt, Robbie’s story is one of dazzling highs and crushing lows. This book takes readers beyond the headlines to explore the real man behind the cheeky grin who was just a boy from Stoke-on-Trent who chased a dream, caught it, and then had to live with everything that came after. The journey begins at Knebworth 2003, when Robbie stood before the biggest live audience in UK history. To the outside world, he was untouchable; inside, he was battling fear, pressure, and the weight of expectation. From there the story moves back through his early days: growing up in Stoke, idolising his father Pete Conway, forming a brotherhood (and rivalry) with Gary Barlow in Take That, and struggling to survive when the band imploded. As a solo artist, Robbie became bigger than the band he left behind. Yet fame magnified his insecurities. The book explores his creative struggles, the so-called “lost years,” and the difficult fight to rediscover confidence and purpose. Along the way, he found love with Ayda Field, built a family with children Teddy and Coco, and reconciled with his father. At the heart of it all is his relationship with his mother, Jan, whose dementia became both a heartbreak and a reminder of what truly matters: love, connection, and peace. This is not just a music biography. It is a raw, moving portrait of survival, family, and resilience. For fans of Take That, for anyone who ever danced to Robbie’s hits, or for readers who want a deeply human story about fame and its cost, Robbie Williams: The Last Pop Star is the most intimate account yet of one of Britain’s greatest entertainers. Amazon.com: Robbie Williams: The Last Pop Star: A biography of the boy from Stoke who sang to the world eBook : Ó Conaill, Fergus: Kindle Store

In this special episode, Lucy sits down with Fergus Ò Conaill, the author behind a new self-published book exploring the life and legacy of pop icon Robbie Williams. Part biography, part recollection that shaped a generation, The Last Pop Star traces Robbie’s journey from Take That to Knebworth and beyond that captures both the swagger and the vulnerability that made him one of the most human stars in pop history. Fergus opens up about: • Why he felt compelled to tell Robbie’s story from a fan’s eye view. • How a long-dormant project finally became reality through self-publishing. • What it means to write honestly in the age of AI and online noise. • How music, creativity, and identity are woven through Robbie’s career. It’s a candid, emotional conversation about fame, fandom, and the persistence it takes to finish what you start. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FN7P5T9N Source https://www.youtube.com/@LandmarkArt-n6i

BODIS - ARIA AWARDS 2009 Source https://www.youtube.com/@ARIA.Official

❤️ Robert Peter (Robbie) Williams (born 13 February 1974 in Stoke-on-Trent) is an English singer and songwriter. He found fame as a member of the pop group Take That from 1990 to 1995, launching a solo career in 1996. His debut studio album, Life thru a Lens, was released in 1997, and included his best-selling single "Angels". His second album, I've Been Expecting You, featured the songs "Millennium" and "She's the One", his first and second number one singles. His discography includes seven UK No. 1 singles, and all but one of his 14 studio albums have reached No. 1 in the UK. Six of his albums are among the top 100 biggest-selling albums in the UK, with two of them in the top 60, and he gained a Guinness World Record in 2006 for selling 1.6 million tickets in a single day during his Close Encounters Tour. Source https://www.youtube.com/@PinkpopArchive

Some positive reaction on a song :)

Another portion of support the movie.

1.6 ml views 😯

Rock Cellar MagazineRobbie Williams Flashes Back to 1995 for New Video "Prett...Robbie Williams dialed it back to 1995 -- quite effectively -- for his new video for "Pretty Face," off his 'Britpop' album due in February. In this video, Williams’ look is straight out of ’95 — bleach-blond hair, Adidas track jacket, the whole nine yards — while energized fans dance around, the whole clip featuring stylized VHS screen blips that you’d see on an old video cassette in your VCR (if you remember those) :)

Well, I've seen this video for 10 times in a row :))

Nice attempt :)

Robbie Williams pays homage to 90s TV show The Word with his new video for ‘Pretty Face’The new album will be available as a limited edition VHS upon release. Artists: Robbie Williams + Published: 10:57 am, November 6, 2025|By Sam Taylor Robbie Williams has released a new video for his track ‘Pretty Face’, paying homage to the celebrated 90s TV show The Word. Directed by Charlie Lightening, the video depicts Williams in his iconic red tracksuit performing on the late-night Channel 4 show. Williams comments, “This is my ‘DeLorean Moment’ back to 1995 .. The Word was the late-night gateway to so many – Nirvana, Oasis, Happy Mondays… If BRITPOP is the album I would have made, then THIS would ha been the TV show…. now a (virtual) reality.” In addition to the video release, Williams has announced that his upcoming album ‘BRITPOP’ – due in February 2026 – will be available as a limited edition VHS. To support the album, he will also embark on the ‘Long 90’s Tour’, performing in intimate venues across Glasgow, Liverpool, London, and Wolverhampton. Fans who pre-order ‘BRITPOP’ from the Robbie Williams store will gain early access to tickets, with general sales beginning on 28th November. The tour dates are as follows: FEBRUARY 4 Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow, UK 6 Liverpool Olympia, Liverpool, UK 8 O2 Academy Brixton, London, UK 9 Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, UK Robbie Williams pays homage to 90s TV show The Word with his new video for 'Pretty Face' - Dork