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Progress Live
Tour by Take That
LocationEurope
Associated albums
Start date27 May 2011 (2011-05-27)
End date29 July 2011 (2011-07-29)
Legs1
No. of shows35 (total)
Supporting actPet Shop Boys
Box officeUS$185.2 million ($265.06 in 2025 dollars)[1]
Take That concert chronology
Home Media release
Home Media Cover, at City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester

Progress Live was the eighth concert tour by the English pop group Take That. The tour, sponsored by Samsung, supported their sixth studio album, Progress as they visited major cities in the UK and Europe. It was the first tour to feature all five original members performing together in 16 years and the final tour to feature Jason Orange and Robbie Williams. In its infancy, the tour accomplished many accolades including selling 1.34 million tickets in less than 24 hours.[2] The tour quickly became the biggest tour in the United Kingdom.[3] They played 8 nights each at City of Manchester Stadium in Manchester and also Wembley Stadium in London – breaking the previous record held by Michael Jackson's Bad World Tour set in 1988.[4][5][6] These eight nights at Wembley Stadium saw Take That break the record for the highest-grossing residency by grossing £38 million ($61 million) from their respective London dates alone.[7][8][9] At the conclusion of 2011, the tour was placed on Billboard's annual, "Top 25 Tours", and appeared third worldwide, earning over $180 million with 29 shows.[10] Each member of the band received £7,900,000 from the tour after tax.

Background

[edit]

In early 2010, the media reported that Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow were recording a duet in Los Angeles, California. Since that announcement, numerous rumours emerged of Williams reuniting with the band. In July 2010, the band confirmed his joining and also announced that all five members were recording an album.[11] The popularity of the tour surpassed their previous fest, which was viewed by over 600,000 spectators.[12]

Opening act

[edit]

Setlist

[edit]
Take That (four-piece)
  2. "Rule the World"
  4. "Greatest Day"
  6. "Hold Up a Light"
  8. "Patience"
  10. "Shine" (contains elements of "Mr. Blue Sky")
Robbie Williams
  2. "Let Me Entertain You" (contains elements of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band")
  4. "Rock DJ"
  6. "Come Undone" (contains elements of "Walk on the Wild Side" and excerpts from "Greatest Day")
  8. "Feel"
  10. "Angels"
Take That (original lineup)
  2. "The Flood"
  4. "SOS"
  6. "Underground Machine"
  8. "Kidz" (contains elements of "Rudebox" and "Clap Your Hands Now")
  10. "Pretty Things"
  12. When They Were Young Medley:
    1. "A Million Love Songs"
    2. "Babe"
    3. "Everything Changes"
  14. "Back for Good"
  16. "Pray"
  18. "Love Love" (contains elements of "Happy Now")
  20. "Never Forget"
Encore
  2. "No Regrets" / "Relight My Fire"
  4. "Eight Letters"

Tour dates

[edit]
List of concerts, showing date, city, country, venue, opening acts, tickets sold, number of available tickets and amount of gross revenue
Date City Country Venue Attendance Revenue
Europe
27 May 2011 Sunderland England Stadium of Light 206,334 / 206,334 $21,600,077
28 May 2011
30 May 2011
31 May 2011
3 June 2011 Manchester Etihad Stadium 443,223 / 443,223 $44,183,145
4 June 2011
5 June 2011
7 June 2011
8 June 2011
10 June 2011
11 June 2011
12 June 2011
14 June 2011 Cardiff Wales Principality Stadium 129,069 / 129,069 $13,473,534
15 June 2011
18 June 2011 Dublin Ireland Croke Park 154,828 / 154,828 $18,217,500
19 June 2011
22 June 2011 Glasgow Scotland Hampden Park 154,588 / 154,588 $16,224,812
23 June 2011
24 June 2011
27 June 2011 Birmingham England Villa Park 94,694 / 94,694 $9,763,108
28 June 2011
30 June 2011 London Wembley Stadium 623,737 / 623,737 $61,713,184
1 July 2011
2 July 2011
4 July 2011
5 July 2011
6 July 2011
8 July 2011
9 July 2011
12 July 2011 Milan Italy San Siro 371,500 / 370,500 $38,078,750
15 July 2011 Copenhagen Denmark Parken Stadium
18 July 2011 Amsterdam Netherlands Johan Cruyff Arena
22 July 2011 Hamburg Germany Volksparkstadion
25 July 2011 Düsseldorf Merkur Spiel-Arena
29 July 2011 Munich Olympiastadion
TOTAL 2,178,028 / 2,178,028 (100%) $223,264,167
Cancellations and rescheduled shows
16 July 2011 Copenhagen, Denmark Parken Stadium Cancelled[13]

Home media

[edit]

Progress Live was filmed on 10 and 11 June 2011 at Etihad Stadium in Manchester [14] and was released on DVD and Blu-ray on 21 November 2011.[15]

A 'highlight' version of the concert was broadcast on BBC1 on 18 December 2011.[16]

Critical response

[edit]

The tour had a positive reaction from critics, media and fans alike. Sky News praised the show commenting that "Take That [had] lived up to the hype surrounding their reunion with Robbie Williams as they kicked off their sell-out tour."[17] Dave Simpson of The Guardian bestowed the highest award of 5 stars to the tour as he praised the achievement of the group by stating "Grins and a group hug later, the band upstaged their jawdropping visuals with the sight of five men performing the classic pop anthems that made them – Pray, Relight My Fire, and Back For Good – and dancing and smiling like they'd never been away." He ended his review by commenting that when "the quintet sang 'Never Forget' in front of an illuminated robot so tall it towered above the stadium, it felt like that almost mythical event: a once in a lifetime pop experience."[18]

Show incidents

[edit]

Mark Owen and Howard Donald were both trapped on a stage robot during a concert at Etihad Stadium in Manchester on 4 June 2011. The pair were meant to be lowered to the stage on the palms of the group's giant robot man, Om, but the mechanics failed. Consequently, they were stuck singing "Love Love" The three metres (10 ft) above the rest of the band. Ladders were used to rescue Mark Owen so he could continue his performance. Howard Donald was forced to sing lead vocals for the next track, "Never Forget", his only solo performance, while still stuck on the robot before being helped down himself. A statement from the group read: "The mechanical man did stop in motion at the end of Love Love but the matter was resolved and by the end of the show he was standing tall again. Howard Donald was stuck singing Never Forget on a mechanical robot. There is no guarantee that with a mechanical structure the size of Om, there will be no recurrence at some point but all seems fine now."[19]

During the 2011 Progress Tour, 16 July concert at the sold-out Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark was cancelled only a few hours before the beginning of the show. It was announced that Robbie Williams had caught a severe stomach infection, and was (in spite of treatment attempts) advised by doctors not to go on stage. Take That therefore decided to cancel the event, feeling the fans would not be satisfied with not having Williams on stage. This was the first time Take That had ever cancelled a concert.[20][21][22]

Charts

[edit]

Progress Live was released on DVD and Blu-ray throughout Europe beginning on 19 November 2011 and debuted at number 1 in the UK and Ireland, whilst also appearing at number 2 in Italy and Germany. On the first two days on sale in the UK the tour DVD sold "twice as much as the entire music DVD chart combined."[23] The first week sales in the UK totalled 127,359, followed by a further 72,715 copies the next week.[24]

DVDs Chart (2011) Peak
position
Denmark Music DVD Top 10 [25] 3
Dutch Music DVD Chart[26] 1
German Music DVD Top 20[citation needed] 2
Irish Music DVD Chart[27] 1
Italian Music DVD chart[28] 2
UK Music DVD Chart[29] 1

Year-end charts

[edit]
Chart (2011) Position
Dutch Music DVD Chart[26] 46
Ireland Music DVD Chart[30] 3

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Progress Live

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Progress Live was a major 2011 concert tour by the English pop band Take That, serving as their eighth overall tour and the first to feature all five original members—Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Mark Owen, Jason Orange, and Robbie Williams—since their 1995 split. Sponsored by Samsung, the tour supported the band's sixth studio album, Progress (2010), and ran from 27 May to 29 July 2011, comprising 35 dates across Europe with 29 shows in the UK stadiums. It set multiple records, including selling 1.34 million tickets in under 24 hours upon announcement and attracting a total attendance exceeding 1.8 million fans in the UK alone, making it the highest-grossing tour in UK history at the time with earnings over £114 million for the UK leg. The production featured innovative staging, including a 20-meter mechanical robot named "OM" as a centerpiece, elaborate video screens, pyrotechnics, and a setlist blending hits from Take That's catalog, Williams' solo career, and tracks from Progress. A live album, Progress Live, was released on 21 November 2011 as a double-disc set recorded at Wembley Stadium in London and the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, peaking at number one on the UK Albums Chart and earning the band Virgin Media's Best Live Act award for 2012. The tour's success underscored Take That's enduring popularity, grossing £38.5 million from eight Wembley performances alone and drawing 623,737 attendees there, surpassing previous UK stadium records.[1][2]

Background and Development

Reunion Announcement

Robbie Williams left Take That on July 17, 1995, citing personal issues including addiction and conflicts with band management and member Gary Barlow, which ultimately led to him paying over £1 million to exit his contract. The departure marked the end of the original five-member lineup, after which Take That continued briefly as a quartet before disbanding in 1996. Williams then embarked on a prolific solo career, releasing debut album Life thru a Lens in 1997 and achieving multiple UK number-one singles, establishing himself as one of the country's best-selling artists with 13 chart-topping albums by 2019.[3] By late 2009, reconciliation efforts between Williams and Barlow sparked rumors of a reunion, culminating in confirmation on July 15, 2010, that Williams would rejoin the band for their sixth studio album, Progress, the first full project featuring all five original members since 1995. This development directly paved the way for the Progress Live tour, publicly announced on October 26, 2010, as a 20-date stadium outing supporting the album's November 15 release and marking the group's first live performances together in 15 years.[4] The reformation of the five-piece lineup drew widespread media attention, with outlets such as BBC News and The Guardian highlighting the emotional significance of the reunion and Williams' return after years of solo success.[5] Public response was ecstatic, reflected in the rapid sell-out of initial tour dates; over one million tickets were sold in under 24 hours, setting a UK record and underscoring the enduring fanbase loyalty.[6] Concurrently with the tour reveal, Samsung Electronics was announced as the presenting partner and official sponsor for the UK portion of Progress Live, providing branding opportunities including exclusive video content and fan experiences.[7]

Planning and Preparation

Following the tour announcement in October 2010, planning for the Progress Live tour focused on logistical coordination and creative conceptualization to accommodate the five-member lineup for the first time since 1995. Rehearsals began in early 2011, building toward an intensive six-week period in the spring to refine performances ahead of the tour's May 27 opening in Sunderland.[8] These sessions took place in studios across Manchester and London, allowing the band to integrate Robbie Williams' return while aligning with the Progress album's release in November 2010.[9] Creative decisions emphasized a tour theme drawn from the Progress album's electronic and futuristic aesthetic, incorporating theatrical elements such as elaborate scenic designs envisioning "the future" through high-tech visuals and narrative staging.[10] Director and choreographer Kim Gavin was hired to oversee the production, collaborating with set designer Es Devlin to craft a spectacle featuring moving stages and symbolic props that reflected the album's themes of evolution and reunion.[11] The scale required 238 trucks for transport, underscoring the tour's ambition as the band's largest to date.[8] Budget estimates for the production ranged from £15 million to nearly £50 million, covering the hiring of specialized teams and advanced technical elements to support stadium-scale shows across the UK and Europe.[8][12] Challenges arose in synchronizing the members' schedules, given their individual commitments—particularly Robbie Williams, whose solo career demanded adjustments—and he contributed significantly to song selections by advocating for inclusions like his hits "Rock DJ" and "Angels" to balance the setlist with Progress tracks and classic Take That material.[8] Williams also faced personal nerves leading into rehearsals, adding emotional complexity to the preparation process.[13]

Production Elements

Set Design and Staging

The set design for Progress Live, crafted by renowned designer Es Devlin, centered around a monumental "Big Man" structure—a 65.5-foot-tall mechanical robot named OM—that dominated the stage and extended into the audience space, framing performances with its articulated arms, head, and torso illuminated by embedded LED panels.[14][15] This bespoke framework, engineered by Stageco with 300 tons of steel per setup, incorporated a 28-meter central tower for the head, side towers for the hands supporting PA and video systems, and a 20-ton convex bridge with curved rear towers for elbows and water effects, allowing dynamic movement via a 35-ton mobile base and hydraulic scissor lifts for band pods.[15][14] Key visual spectacles included a large water wall used for choreographed abseiling sequences during "The Flood," where dancers descended amid cascading effects, and whimsical Alice in Wonderland-inspired props such as roller-skating bees, a giant purple caterpillar that walked across the stage, and a troupe of Shaolin monks in red cloaks swinging lanterns to herald the band's entrance.[16][17][18] Additional elements featured dancing chess pieces on a stylized board for the "Kidz" segment and gas-masked performers against futuristic video backdrops during "Love Love."[16][18] Lighting and video projections were intricately tied to the Progress album's themes of reunion and evolution, utilizing multiple LED screens on the towers and bridge for immersive visuals, including a reimagined Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band interlude and thematic transitions with flames and explosions.[18][14] Pyrotechnics were deployed extensively throughout, enhancing high-energy moments with bursts of fire and confetti, while Neg Earth-supplied LED clusters in OM's eyes, heart, and hands synchronized with the performance for dramatic glow effects.[18][14] The technical crew, led by creative director Kim Gavin and production manager Chris Vaughan, oversaw innovations like automated stage lifts and a linking walkway of 20 collapsible sections for fluid transitions, with mechanical engineering by Andy Edwards ensuring precise operation by dedicated traction operators and safety spotters.[14] Costume designs complemented the surreal elements, featuring elaborate outfits for dancers as butterflies, trees, and chess figures, integrated seamlessly with the staging to amplify the theatrical narrative.[19][20] Across the tour's UK and European legs, the core staging remained consistent to maintain spectacle, with minor adjustments to the bridge and tower configurations for varying stadium sizes, such as the eight-night runs at Manchester's City of Manchester Stadium and London's Wembley Stadium.[15][14]

Setlist

The standard setlist for the Progress Live tour consisted of 23 songs, blending tracks from the 2010 reunion album Progress with classic Take That hits and Robbie Williams' solo material to highlight the group's reformed lineup.[16] The performance opened with anthemic group numbers from the Beautiful World era, transitioned into Williams' solo segment, and incorporated Progress songs to underscore themes of reconciliation and forward momentum. This structure emphasized the reunion narrative by juxtaposing Williams' high-energy solo hits—symbolizing his independent career—with collaborative Take That staples, culminating in a grand finale that reinforced unity.[21] The opening night setlist at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland on May 27, 2011, established the tour's core sequence, which remained largely consistent across performances:
  • Rule the World
  • Greatest Day
  • Hold Up a Light
  • Patience
  • Shine
  • Sgt. Pepper’s (virtual tape performance)
  • Let Me Entertain You
  • Rock DJ
  • Come Undone (incorporating elements of "Walk on the Wild Side")
  • Feel
  • Angels
  • The Flood
  • SOS
  • Underground Machine
  • Kidz
  • Pretty Things
  • Piano medley: A Million Love Songs / Babe / Everything Changes / Back for Good
  • Pray
  • Love Love
  • Never Forget
  • No Regrets
  • Relight My Fire
  • Eight Letters[16]
Song choices were strategically curated to balance novelty and nostalgia, with seven tracks from Progress (The Flood, SOS, Underground Machine, Kidz, Pretty Things, Love Love, Eight Letters) providing fresh material that explored themes of brotherhood and redemption, directly tying into the album's reunion storyline.[21] Classics like "Back for Good" and "Never Forget" evoked the band's 1990s legacy, while Williams' solos ("Let Me Entertain You," "Rock DJ," "Angels") celebrated his post-departure success, framing the tour as a triumphant homecoming.[16] Arrangements featured seamless transitions and medleys to maintain pacing, such as the piano-led mashup of early hits midway through, which condensed the group's history into an emotional centerpiece, and the explosive close pairing Williams' "No Regrets" with the disco cover "Relight My Fire" (where he took Lulu's vocal part).[22] In the UK leg, the setlist adhered closely to this format, but European dates saw minor tweaks, including a shortened solo section or integrated excerpts of "No Regrets" within "Relight My Fire" for tighter flow.[23] These variations allowed adaptability to venue acoustics and audience energy while preserving the overarching narrative of progress and reconciliation.[21]

Band and Crew

Progress Live featured the reunited original lineup of Take That as vocalists: Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen, and Robbie Williams.[24] This marked the first time all five members performed together on tour since 1995.[10] The backing band included Mike Stevens as musical director, keyboards, guitar, and vocals; Gary Nuttall and Milton McDonald on guitars and vocals; Lee Pomeroy on bass and vocals; Donovan Hepburn on drums; and Bernie Smith and Jamie Norton on keyboards.[25] Gary Barlow contributed as the primary pianist and provided musical oversight, drawing on his role as the group's principal songwriter.[26] Robbie Williams brought his signature energetic and charismatic performance style to the stage, particularly during his solo segments.[10] Key production personnel included artistic director and choreographer Kim Gavin, who oversaw the tour's staging and movement sequences.[27] The production featured approximately 30 dancers, with specialized aerial performers from Incandescence handling segments involving winch systems and water screens.[27] Front-of-house sound engineer Gary Bradshaw managed the audio mix using a DiGiCo SD7 console, ensuring clarity across the large stadium venues.[28]

Tour Performances

Opening Acts

The Progress Live tour featured the Pet Shop Boys as the primary supporting act across all dates, performing a 40-minute set of their classic hits to warm up audiences prior to Take That's headline performance.[29][30] Their set typically included fan favorites such as "West End Girls," "It's a Sin," and "Go West," blending electronic pop elements that complemented the tour's high-energy atmosphere and appealed to overlapping demographics of longtime British pop enthusiasts.[31] The selection of the Pet Shop Boys was influenced by mutual admiration within the British music scene, particularly Robbie Williams' expressed fandom, which he described as an "absolute treat" to experience nightly during the tour.[32] This choice aligned with the tour's aim to evoke nostalgia and broad appeal, drawing on the duo's established reputation for elaborate live productions that energized stadium crowds without overshadowing the main act. No significant variations in opening acts were reported across the UK and European legs, maintaining consistency in the support lineup.[33] While specific joint rehearsals between the Pet Shop Boys and Take That were not publicly detailed, the acts shared the stage environment seamlessly, with the support duo's performance directly preceding Take That's elaborate entrance, fostering a cohesive event flow that heightened anticipation for the reunion show.[34]

Tour Dates and Venues

The Progress Live tour consisted of a UK and Ireland stadium run followed by a short European extension, totaling 35 performances (34 performed after one cancellation) across major venues from 27 May to 29 July 2011. All dates were sold out shortly after announcement, reflecting unprecedented demand that saw 1.34 million tickets sold in under 24 hours, breaking previous UK records.[24] The UK and Ireland leg spanned 29 shows from 27 May to 10 July 2011, kicking off with five shows at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland (capacity approximately 49,000) and featuring multiple nights at key venues like the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, where eight consecutive performances drew around 423,000 fans across shows with a capacity of approximately 53,000 each. Other notable stops included eight record-breaking nights at Wembley Stadium in London (capacity 90,000), attracting 623,737 attendees and generating £38 million in revenue, as well as dates at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Villa Park in Birmingham, and the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. The leg amassed 1,806,473 total attendees and grossed $185 million, marking it as the highest-grossing concert residency and tour segment in UK history at the time.[35][36] The European leg followed in July 2011, encompassing 6 scheduled dates in 6 cities, with venues such as San Siro in Milan (12 July, capacity 80,000), Parken Stadium in Copenhagen (15-16 July, capacity 38,000; the 16 July show cancelled), Amsterdam Arena in Amsterdam (18 July, capacity 50,000), Imtech Arena in Hamburg (22 July, capacity 57,000), Esprit Arena in Düsseldorf (25 July, capacity 54,000), and Olympiastadion in Munich (29 July, capacity 69,000). These outdoor stadium shows maintained the tour's high production standards and sold-out status, though detailed per-venue capacities varied from 38,000 to over 80,000; no major rescheduling occurred despite variable summer weather across the continent. The extension built on the UK success, contributing to the tour's global ranking as the third highest-grossing of 2011 with an overall estimated attendance of 2,178,028 and gross of $223 million.[37][38]

Incidents and Modifications

During the Progress Live tour, a notable technical incident occurred on June 4, 2011, at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, where band members Mark Owen and Howard Donald became trapped on a malfunctioning giant robot stage prop during the performance of "The Flood." The robot, a 20-meter-tall mechanical figure central to the show's elaborate staging, failed at the climax, leaving the two singers suspended for approximately 20 minutes while technicians resolved the issue, resulting in a 30-minute delay to the concert. Robbie Williams and Jason Orange continued performing to maintain the show's momentum until the problem was fixed, allowing the event to proceed without further interruption.[39][40] Another significant disruption involved health-related challenges for Robbie Williams, who suffered severe food poisoning ahead of the scheduled July 16, 2011, show at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark, leading to the complete cancellation of the performance—the first in the band's history. The illness, described as making Williams "violently ill," prompted the postponement to prioritize his recovery, with the tour resuming two days later in Amsterdam without reported long-term effects on the itinerary. This incident highlighted the physical demands of the high-energy reunion tour on the performers.[41][42] On a lighter note, an unintended wardrobe malfunction occurred during Williams' solo segment on 19 June 2011, at Croke Park in Dublin, where he accidentally exposed himself to the audience, adding an unplanned moment of humor to the otherwise polished production. Additionally, positive off-script interactions enhanced several shows, such as at Croke Park in Dublin on June 19, 2011, when Williams paused to engage directly with a front-row fan, creating a memorable personal connection amid the stadium spectacle. These anomalies underscored the tour's dynamic, unscripted elements despite its meticulous planning.[43][44] In response to audience behavior issues, Manchester hospitals reported an influx of intoxicated fans requiring medical attention following the June 2011 stadium dates, prompting local authorities to issue warnings about excessive drinking at events, though no formal tour modifications were implemented. Overall, such incidents were rare given the tour's scale, with the production team adapting swiftly to minimize disruptions across the 35-show tour.[45]

Media and Releases

Live Album

Progress Live is the second live album by English pop group Take That, capturing performances from their 2011 Progress Live tour. Released on 28 November 2011 by Polydor Records, the double-disc set features 22 tracks recorded across multiple shows at Wembley Stadium in London and Etihad Stadium in Manchester during June and July 2011.[25][46][47] The album's production, handled by recording engineer Toby Alington and mixed by Steve Power, prioritized preserving the raw energy and crowd interaction of the stadium concerts while ensuring a polished audio experience suitable for home listening. Key inclusions highlight the tour's blend of new material from the Progress album and classic hits, such as the opener "Rule the World," the anthemic "The Flood," and extended medleys like Robbie Williams' solo segment combining "Let Me Entertain You," "Rock DJ," and "No Regrets." These selections emphasize the reunion's dynamic five-piece lineup and thematic elements of progression and nostalgia.[48][49] Compared to the full tour setlist, which typically spanned over two hours with around 28 individual songs, the album's tracklist incorporates edits and medleys to fit a runtime of approximately 108 minutes, omitting some deeper cuts while streamlining transitions for broader accessibility. For instance, tracks like "Patience" and "Pray" are presented as separate recordings, reflecting the live show's pacing but condensed for the recording. This approach maintains the tour's inspirational structure of hits and solos without replicating every moment.[21][25] The standard edition was released as a two-CD package with artwork featuring live tour imagery and liner notes detailing the reunion context. A deluxe limited-edition box set bundled the audio CDs with the accompanying concert DVD and additional memorabilia, though no exclusive bonus audio tracks were included in the core release.[48][47]

Concert Film and DVD

The Progress Live concert film captures the full performance from Take That's 2011 tour, filmed live at the City of Manchester Stadium on June 10 and 11, 2011, under the direction of Matt Askem.[50][51] Released on November 21, 2011, in both DVD and Blu-ray formats by Polydor/Universal, the two-disc set presents the complete two-hour, fifteen-minute show in high-definition, highlighting the tour's elaborate staging elements such as a 75-foot water wall, pyrotechnics, and aerial performers.[52][53][54] The main disc features the band's set, including hits like "Rule the World," "Back for Good," and Robbie Williams' solo segments such as "Angels," with dynamic camera work emphasizing the production's scale and the group's choreography amid props like roller-skating bees and a giant caterpillar.[53] The Blu-ray edition offers an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, ensuring crisp visuals of the stadium atmosphere and special effects that were central to the tour's spectacle.[54] Audio tracks from the accompanying live album are integrated, providing synchronized sound for the video presentation.[52] The bonus disc includes the 23-minute documentary Making Progress Live, which offers behind-the-scenes insights filmed across the tour's 27 UK dates, featuring interviews with the band members, rehearsal footage, and glimpses into the production process.[53] This extra content provides context on the reunion dynamic with Williams and the logistical challenges of staging the shows for over 1.8 million attendees.[54] The release was praised for preserving the tour's high-energy visuals in a format accessible for home viewing.[51]

Television Broadcast

The primary television broadcast of the Progress Live tour was the BBC One special titled Take That: Progress Live, which premiered on December 18, 2011. This 80-minute edited version captured highlights from the concert filmed at the City of Manchester Stadium during the tour's June 2011 dates, featuring the full five-member lineup including Robbie Williams' reunion with the group.[55] Directed by Matt Askem, with production by Dione Orrom and executive producers Jonathan Wild, David Einthoven, and Josie Cliff, the special was tailored for linear television, incorporating dynamic audience reactions, close-up performer shots, and adaptations of the tour's elaborate staging—such as a giant robot and acrobatic sequences—to fit broadcast constraints like commercial breaks.[55] The program showcased key hits including "Rule the World," "Shine," "Let Me Entertain You," and "Never Forget," providing a condensed overview of the full concert experience later released on home video.[55] The premiere drew over 2.1 million viewers across Europe, underscoring the tour's widespread appeal.[55] It was re-aired on BBC One on December 29, 2012, and screened internationally on channels like 3sat in German-speaking regions, where a 67-minute version highlighted the reunion spectacle and received strong audience feedback.[55][56] Following the initial airings, the special was made available for on-demand streaming via BBC iPlayer, enhancing accessibility in the years after 2011.[55]

Reception

Critical Response

The Progress Live tour garnered widespread praise from critics for its successful reunion of Take That's original five members, including Robbie Williams, marking the first time the group had toured together since 1995. Reviewers highlighted the evident chemistry among the bandmates, evident in their playful banter and seamless integration during performances of both classic hits and new material from the Progress album. The Guardian noted the "collective gasp" from the audience upon Williams' entrance and praised the overall event as a "once-in-a-lifetime experience," emphasizing the emotional weight of five men delivering pop anthems with renewed vigor.[8] Critics also lauded the tour's high-energy spectacle, which combined elaborate staging with dynamic choreography and pyrotechnics to create an immersive pop extravaganza. BBC News described the kickoff show at Sunderland's Stadium of Light as featuring a 40-foot animatronic figure, druid-like performers, and a giant chessboard battle sequence, all contributing to a rapturous atmosphere that captivated 54,000 attendees. The energy was further amplified by Williams' "hyperactive dance moves" and the band's effortless transitions between upbeat tracks like "Pray" and nostalgic ballads such as "Never Forget."[57] Vocal harmonies received particular acclaim, with the group's layered delivery on songs like "The Flood" showcasing their matured synergy and emotional depth. The Guardian commended Williams' "effortless" rendition of solo staples "Let Me Entertain You" and "Angels," while BBC News highlighted Gary Barlow's piano-driven moments that evoked the band's early days, blending nostalgia with contemporary polish. Overall, major outlets reported a positive consensus, positioning the tour as a triumphant return that elevated Take That's legacy in live entertainment.[8][57]

Commercial Performance

The Progress Live tour achieved unprecedented commercial success, particularly in the United Kingdom, where it became the fastest-selling tour in the country's history. A record-breaking 1.34 million tickets for the UK leg were sold in less than 24 hours upon going on sale in October 2010, surpassing all previous benchmarks for initial demand.[46] This rapid sell-out generated over £50 million in ticket revenue on the first day alone, reflecting the heightened anticipation following Robbie Williams' reunion with the group.[58] The tour's overall financial performance was equally remarkable, with the UK portion comprising 27 dates and attracting approximately 1.76 million attendees, grossing £114 million in total ticket sales.[1] Progress Live ranked as the third highest-grossing tour of 2011 globally, with worldwide earnings of approximately $185 million from 36 shows across Europe.[37] It also set a new record for the most lucrative concert residency, earning £38 million from eight consecutive nights at Wembley Stadium.[1] Additional revenue streams bolstered the tour's economics, including sponsorship from Samsung, which served as the presenting partner for the UK dates and provided branding opportunities such as exclusive app integrations and mobile partnerships.[59] Merchandise sales further contributed, capitalizing on the event's spectacle with items tied to the production's elaborate staging. The tour's success also earned Take That the Virgin Media Best Live Act award in 2012. Compared to Take That's prior Beautiful World Live tour (2006–2007), Progress Live shattered box office records, doubling attendance and revenue scales due to the five-member lineup's draw.[46]

Chart Achievements

The live album Progress Live, released in November 2011, debuted at number 12 on the UK Albums Chart and spent a total of 10 weeks on the listing, including four weeks in the top 20.[60] It achieved a similar peak of number 12 on the Scottish Albums Chart, charting for seven weeks. The release was certified Platinum in the UK by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for shipments of 300,000 units. The accompanying concert film and DVD/Blu-ray release of Progress Live performed strongly on video charts, debuting at number 1 on the UK Official Music Video Chart upon its November 2011 launch and accumulating 78 weeks on the ranking.[61] It also topped the Irish Music DVD Chart and reached number 1 on the Italian Music DVD Chart.[52] The DVD sold over 100,000 units in its first week in the UK, more than twice the combined sales of the entire music DVD chart during that period, marking it as the best-selling music DVD of 2011 in the territory.[52] The Blu-ray edition peaked at number 2 on the UK Official Blu-ray Chart with seven weeks overall.[61] In year-end tallies, Progress Live (DVD) ranked among the top video releases of 2011 in the UK, while the album edition placed at number 65 on the end-of-year UK Albums Chart despite its late-year release. The media maintained visibility into 2012, with the album re-entering the UK chart briefly and the video formats sustaining long-term presence on specialist lists. On a global scale, the releases garnered certifications across Europe, including Gold status in Germany for the DVD by the Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI) for 30,000 units shipped.

References

  1. Robbie Williams hits number one and equals Elvis Presley's ... - BBC
  2. Take That Announces 20-Date Reunion Tour - Billboard
  3. Robbie Williams rejoins Take That after 15 years - The Guardian
  4. Take That reunion gigs sell out - BBC News
  5. Samsung signs up as Take That tour sponsor - Campaign
  6. Take That – review - The Guardian
  7. Take That - Progress Live 2011 Preview (Part 2) - YouTube
  8. Take That: behind the scenes of Progress Live - The Telegraph
  9. Take That 2011 Tour | Aerial Sequence & Elemental Spectacle
  10. Take That's £50 million Progress show | ELLE Canada Magazine
  11. Take That's 'futuristic' 'Progress' tour to cost £50 million - NME
  12. Brilliant Stages for Take That's Progress Live 2011 Tour
  13. Take That - Progress Tour 2011 - Stageco
  14. Progress Live 2011 Tour - Opening Night Round-Up & Setlist
  15. Live Review: Take That's 'Progress Live' @ Croke Park, June 18th ...
  16. Take That: Progress Live – Wembley Stadium - Busy Elle Bee
  17. Take That Progress Live album review: Ballerinas and butterflies
  18. Take That: Progress 2011 Tour - elementaryvwatson - WordPress.com
  19. Take That Average Setlists of tour: Progress Live - Setlist.fm
  20. Take That Setlist at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
  21. Take That Concert Setlist at Imtech Arena, Hamburg on July 22, 2011
  22. PROGRESS LIVE 2011 - Take That
  23. Take That - Progress Live
  24. Mike Stevens - Sound On Sound
  25. Take That - Live Progress Tour - Incandescence
  26. New take on Progress Live mixing - Fast-and-Wide.com
  27. Pet Shop Boys to support Take That on tour - The Mirror
  28. Pet Shop Boys teaming up with Take That for tour - Daily Express
  29. Pet Shop Boys join Take That on Progress UK tour - BBC News
  30. Interview: Take That on their Progress Live tour - Chronicle Live
  31. Take That special guests - Pet Shop Boys
  32. PET SHOP BOYS ARE CONFIRMED AS VERY SPECIAL GUESTS ...
  33. Hot Tours: Take That, U2, Roger Waters - Billboard
  34. Take That break highest grossing concert series record - BBC News
  35. U2 beat Take That to be top earning touring act in 2011 - BBC News
  36. Take That announce Progress Live 2011 tour dates
  37. Take That trapped on stage robot during Manchester show - BBC
  38. Take That's Howard Donald and Mark Owen trapped in giant robot ...
  39. Take That cancel show due to Williams' illness - BBC News
  40. Take That cancel gig after Robbie illness - RTE
  41. Robbie Williams 'flashes fans on Take That tour' - Digital Spy
  42. Robbie Talks To A Fan In The Front Row At Croke Park (19 June)
  43. Drunk Take That fans flood A&E after Manchester gigs - BBC News
  44. Take That to release live album from Progress tour - BBC News
  45. PROGRESS LIVE - Take That
  46. https://www.discogs.com/release/3306682-Take-That-Progress-Live
  47. Progress Live - Take That | Album - AllMusic
  48. Credits - Serpent Films
  49. Take That: Progress Live (2011) - Blu-ray.com
  50. PROGRESS LIVE DVD - Take That
  51. Take That - Progress Live
  52. Progress Live : Take That, Take That: Movies & TV - Amazon.com
  53. Take That: Progress Live - BBC One
  54. Take That: Progress Live – Reunion-Show 2011 in Manchester
  55. Take That and Robbie Williams start landmark tour
  56. Take That tour sells 1 million tickets in 24 hours | CBC News
  57. Take That break highest grossing concert series record - BBC News
  58. https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/most-lucrative-comeback-tours-ever-113000335.html
  59. TAKE THAT PROGRESS LIVE 2011 PRESENTED BY SAMSUNG
  60. PROGRESS LIVE – TAKE THAT - Official Charts
  61. PROGRESS LIVE – TAKE THAT - Official Charts
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