MAN BAND PLAN FUTURISTIC SHOWS

TAKE That’s forthcoming Odyssey tour is inspired by sci-fi classic Blade Runner.

The band might be celebrating the past on their 30th-anniversary jaunt, but visually they have added a futuristic twist for the concerts which kick off in April.

told me: “We wanted something that explains the journey that we have been on.

“Also, what I like about it is when we were growing up we were all watching films like Blade Runner and looking at what the future might be like, and now we are in it – because Blade Runner was set in 2019.

“I was even walking in London and thinking, ‘It is all around us.’ I mean, my kids have a hover board now!”

Take That also hinted at a futuristic apocalyptic vibe with the Odyssey album artwork – which was all shot in a barren desert.

Mark joked: “We’re bringing lots of sand on tour as well.”

Of course, fans have grown accustomed to spectacular Take That gigs over the years, but the Odyssey shows promise to go that extra mile and deliver something really special.

agreed: “It’s the big bit for us, the tour. We love it. It will be a big show.

“All the [album] artwork is a reflection of what we will be bringing to the stage.”

Before Christmas it reported that Take was That cancelled potential global tour plans due to a family illness. But that won’t impact any of the 52 gigs around the UK and Europe.

Gary went on: “Everything has a detail that relates to the old times but we tried to bring a new flavour to it.

“It’s been a good chance to update the stuff and bring it into this century.

“Things sound different now, it’s been a chance to revisit things we have done a thousand times and do them a different way.”

Mark added: “We had to dig through the archives for the older stuff.”

And said: “Some of the stuff was probably too rude to put on the record anyway!”

I think Take That fans are old and wise enough to get a joke.