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Robbie Williams exclusive: 'I want to be a Saturday night TV star like my heroes Morecambe and Wise'

Former bad boy Robbie Williams has his sights set on being ‘Mr Saturday Night’ – an all singing and dancing entertainment maestro just like his showbiz idols Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise.

Taking over from the likes of Ant and Dec is part of his 10-year master plan but until then we’ve got this year’s tour to look forward to, probably a few more albums and undoubtedly a lot more Robbie shenanigans.

Speaking ahead of his performance at the 2017 BRIT awards, Robbie, 43, told Yahoo Celeb: ‘I love showbiz and what’s more showbiz than being Mr Saturday night? It’s immense.

Robbie at the Sanremo Festival in Italy earlier this year (Rex)
Robbie at the Sanremo Festival in Italy earlier this year (Rex)

‘I’d love to do a singing dancing thing like Morecambe and Wise on the telly but it’s probably 10 years away. That would be great. And if asked if that’s what I want in the future, the short answer is yes!’

That may seem a bit surprising but Robbie’s hell-raising days are over, he says. Now a dad-of-two and happily married to the beautiful American actress Ayda Field, he admits that his attitude towards hedonistic award shows is now ‘totally different’ and he sees them ‘as part of his job’.

Morecambe and Wise in 1984
Morecambe and Wise in 1984

He said: ‘Back then in the Nineties it was more of a high-octane, impossible to keep up without dying lifestyle I had. People who have kept that up are dead.

‘And there’s Bez and Shaun Ryder [from the Happy Mondays] who go against that rule but with any high octane and incredibly enjoyable lifestyle it’s also incredibly sad.

‘For everyone up, there’s a hangover. So I’m more responsible now and have a more realistic view on life these days.’

Robbie is still roguish in the extreme though, don’t worry, and recently admitted recently admitted that he smoked a spliff in Buckingham Palace in 2012 . Plus he still curses like an absolute trooper and doesn’t take himself serious in any way like a lot of now LA-based British stars do.

Robbie Williams back in the day and now (Rex)
Robbie Williams back in the day and now (Rex)

And though Robbie doesn’t seem to have any regrets, he does confess that if the debauchery and druggy recklessness of the Nineties came full circle again it would be a ‘huge cliche’.

Artists now are a lot more clean living and mindful of their health and well-being and while some may say that that attitude is not exactly rock n roll, Robbie said it would look ‘out of place now.’

He explained: ‘Being of its time it made sense then. But what made sense in the Nineties does not make sense in 2017.

Robbie Williams and Ayda Field on Loose Women (Rex)
Robbie Williams and Ayda Field on Loose Women (Rex)

‘People are more aware now. We were a bunch of obnoxious t*** back then and that kind of thing would look out of place now. It would be silly and clichéd and people would definitely think, what are those d*** heads doing?’

Robbie also told us that, unlike lots of other celebs, he won’t be preaching about politics on a podium near you anytime soon.

He said: ‘I think people should do that they feel like doing. A lot of that stuff really annoys me but as Wesley Snipes said, if people didn’t want celebs voicing their opinions about politics they shouldn’t have voted one in as president.

‘I think celebs are people too and I do find that stuff annoying but I also think, yeah right on, well done for saying that but it’s difficult to know what to say.

‘I want to go out there and entertain people but I don’t think I’ll be making any announcements about American policy.’

Hear, hear.

Robbie Williams with baby Teddy (PA)
Robbie Williams with baby Teddy (PA)

A devoted family man (see that picture of infant Teddy resting on his chest – too cute) Robbie’s little girl is four now and she’s just starting to realise that her old man is kind of a big deal.

He said: ‘We were in the park the other day and someone wanted a picture taken with me and I said, really sorry, I’m just a daddy right now.

‘And I walked off and I could see her little face kind of process what had just happened and she said “daddy did that lady come to you because of the singing? And I was like, yeah baby because of the singing.”

‘And then she thought “oh”, and the next thought happened to her. But she hasn’t been confronted with what being Robbie Williams actually means yet. I’ve got all that ahead of me.’

Ahead of Robbie’s performance at the BRITS he took part in the Priceless Surprises campaign with Mastercard. He gave one of his biggest fans, Danielle Howting from Gosport Hants the ‘surprise of a lifetime’ when he performed his latest single with her nine-year-old daughter Grace as a duet at a surprise gig at her local cinema.

Danielle met her partner at a Robbie gig years ago so the singer has a particularly special place in her heart.

You can watch the video above and Robbie said of the experience: ‘The best thing about it was that the family were awesome people. People are people and not everyone is great – I meet the general public on a daily basis and these particular people were epic and wonderful and there was no sticky out bits or oddness.

Robbie Williams with his Priceless Surprise fans
Robbie Williams with his Priceless Surprise fans

‘I felt very comfortable and also a fabulous thing was happening. I made them very happy and in return they made me very happy – that particular day, I had a great day.’

Hurrah for Robbie. Can’t wait to see you at the BRITS 2017!