Take That could have been called The English

Take That were planning to ditch their band name and rechristen themselves The English for their comeback, they have revealed.

The revived quintet toyed with the idea of assuming the new title to record a single to kick-start their return.

And the proposed name change paved the way for a massive change of sound for some of the songs, the newly reunited Robbie Williams told Q magazine.

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In the December edition of the magazine, the band - who are pictured together by rock star turned photographer Bryan Adams - say the initial plan was for a one-off single under the assumed name.

Over time the idea was ditched, but it freed the band creatively to create an electro pop-style for their comeback album, Progress, which is out next month.

"I'm guessing that the initial idea of not being called Take That freed Gary up," said Williams. "Is it a brave record? Only if it fails."

Gary Barlow suggested in the Q interview, which is published next Tuesday, that he would have been bored by a further album if Williams had not returned.

"After those last two records the thought of the four of us just going in and doing another... it solved all that Rob coming back. It's made it interesting," Barlow said.

Williams left the band in 1995 but after years of acrimony - mainly between himself and Barlow - they buried the hatchet and began working on new material last year.

His reunion with Take That also overshadowed Williams's interest in his own solo career, he revealed.

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