People have just discovered a helpline for ‘distressed’ Take That fans after new Robbie Williams film-Asyia Iftikhar-Entertainment – Metro

Take That’s six-month long break up took its toll on the nation (Picture: Getty)

Take That fans across the country were left so distraught after the band broke up in 1996 that helplines were set up to support the grieving fanbase.

Yes, really.

The tale of national woe started in July 1995 when one of the band’s most beloved members, Robbie Williams, made a shock exit after a series of personal and professional struggles.

The remaining members Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Jason Orange and Howard Donald followed hot on his heels in February 1996 with plans to pursue solo careers.

Although short-lived, the boy band had made their mark with chart-topping hits such as Pray, Relight My Fire and Everything Changes, As such, the news was a devastating blow to the devoted, wide-spanning fanbase.

Now fans are taking a trip down memory lane at the ‘hysteria’ that gripped thousands during that era as Robbie released his CGI monkey biopic, Better Man, in cinemas.

Their brimming fanbase wept, took time off school and were plunged into existential despair (Picture: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Robbie left the band in 1995, and they broke up just months later (Picture: Getty)

The size and devotion of their global fanbase cannot be understated (Picture: Getty)

Especially in response to the ongoing discourse that Robbie, and the band, never quite managed to make it in the US.

‘In Better Man, they quietly glossed past the TRUE story that when Robbie Williams left Take That they had to open a support hotline for people to call, such were the levels of hysteria around the band.

‘I don’t think Americans quite understand the spotlight these guys were under,’ @jesshawthorn wrote on X.

Prompting many to discover this shocking fact for the first time, or reminisce on the chaotic good ol’ days.

‘One of my friends was off school for DAYS when Robbie left Take That,’ @mellifratelli shared.

‘I cried for a week,’ @tessicat agreed.

A BBC report from February 1996 confirmed The Samaritans had set up ‘a special helpline to offer counselling to fans distressed by the split’. Childline also had volunteers on standby for the influx of gutted teens.

And the phenomenon was not isolated to England.

The Samaritans set up a helpline for tearful fans to process the news (Picture: Getty)

Fans are sharing their memories of the hotline after Better Man arrived in the US to little fanfare (Picture: AP)

The Robbie Williams biopic has an impressive 89% on Rotten Tomatoes (Picture: Getty)

Another news report from the time shared that German officials had urged the record company RCA to set up support lines for ‘desperate fans’.

The sheer popularity of the band is being driven home to viewers across the pond after the movie flopped at the US box office, earning only $1.1million (£908k) upon opening.

Despite its ambitious vision and high budget, the movie has also faced awards disappointment after being struck from the Oscars best original song shortlist and being snubbed by the Baftas.

Better Man offers a candid exploration of Robbie’s history with substance abuse, mental health troubles, relationship drama and the dynamic with hisfather Pete.

The Angels hitmaker’s ex-girlfriend Nicole Appleton and her sister watched the movie ahead of its release, with Robbie revealing her emotional reaction.

‘I FaceTimed them all straight after the film and we all wept together,’ he said.

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