Robbie Williams says 'she didn't deserve that' as he admits moment of 'shame' on BBC The One Show
by Annabal Bagdi, Samantha King, https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/authors/annabal-bagdi/ · Birmingham LiveRobbie Williams opened up about a moment in his life which caused him 'shame'. The singer appeared on BBC's The One Show to plug his upcoming semi-biographical film Better Man on Tuesday, November 26.
The former Take That star - who is portrayed by a CGI chimpanzee in the film - discussed the real-life events which inspired the movie. It was directed by Michael Gracey - famed for his work on The Greatest Showman - who appeared alongside Robbie on The One Show sofa.
The interview was mostly light-hearted but one viewer's question prompted an emotional response from Robbie. Co-host Lauren Laverne asked the star on fan Jenny's behalf: "Do you have a favourite part of the film and how emotional was it watching it?".
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Letting out a deep sigh, Robbie opened up about one moment he said he struggled to watch on the big screen. He said: "I think the bits with Nicky Appleton were the most difficult bits because everybody else in the movie was villain-esque in my life in some way or another and she's the only person that didn't do me any harm.
"So when I watch that, I feel a sense of shame that I was her idiot boyfriend at the time. She didn't deserve that, she's a good person."
Robbie and Nicole Appleton were engaged after meeting on Top Of The Pops in 1997. But their relationship did not last.
Robbie is now married to former ITV The X Factor judge Ayda Field, 45, and have four children together. Elsewhere on the show, Robbie explained why he was represented by a chimp in the film.
He said: "I love eccentricity and I love unusual and I love surreal, and it made complete sense as soon as he [Michael Gracey] pitched it to me. I don't know if this film would be as talked-about if it hadn't had the monkey in it. It all makes sense when you see it."
Better Man is out in cinemas on December 26