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Robbie Williams: 'I didn't leave the sofa for three years'

A photo of Robbie Williams at the wedding of Princess Eugenie of York and Jack Brooksbank at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on October 12, 2018 in Windsor, England.
Music legend Robbie Williams has opened up about his battle with mental illness. Photo: Getty Images.

Brit superstar Robbie Williams, 45, has revealed he stayed indoors for three years due to struggling with the anxiety disorder agoraphobia.

The condition, which leaves sufferers finding it difficult to leave the house, led to the singer turning down a near $27 million offer to host reality TV show American Idol.

Speaking to the Sun Online, the “Angels” singer said, "My career had gone stratospheric and taken me to Mars, and I needed some time to get my equilibrium back and get myself back together.

“It was my body and mind telling me I shouldn’t go anywhere, that I couldn’t do anything. It was telling me to just wait, so I literally just sat and waited."

The dad-of-three added, "I was agoraphobic from around 2006 to 2009. Those years were just spent wearing a cashmere kaftan, eating Kettle Chips, growing a beard and staying in."

Discussing the offer to be involved in American Idol, the singer said, “They offered me £15 million to take over from Simon Cowell, plus a big gig in the States, but I turned it down because I wasn’t leaving the sofa at the time. I just couldn’t."

Seeking help

What got Robbie off the couch and out of the house was hearing a song by fellow musicians The Killers on the radio.

The lyrics to “Human” include, “And sometimes I get nervous / When I see an open door”, prompted him to seek help for his condition.

Robbie eventually made a comeback, performing on X Factor in 2009 - but the former Let Me Entertain You” hit-maker admits he had to “re-learn” how to entertain.

He said, "It wasn’t an easy process, it was like having a car crash and then learning how to walk again.”

A photo of Howard Donald, Mark Owen, Gary Barlow, Robbie Williams and Jason Orange of Take That backstage prior to performing at the National Movie Awards 2011 at Wembley arena on May 11, 2011 in London, England.
Howard Donald, Mark Owen, Gary Barlow, Robbie Williams and Jason Orange of Take That pose backstage prior to performing at the National Movie Awards 2011. Photo: Getty Images.

Robbie’s comeback was complete when he rejoined Take That for a sell-out tour in 2011, and the 45-year-old claims the decision helped him “hide in plain sight”.

He said, “If it wasn’t for Take That, and rejoining them, I don’t know if I’d have come back at all.

“Initially, I got to hide in plain sight - I could hide behind my boys. They helped an awful lot.”

Robbie recently made an appearance as a guest at Princess Eugenie’s October 2018 wedding, and is happily married to wife Ayda Field, 40, who he wed in 2010.

Additional reporting by Danny Thompson.

Mental health support for yourself or a loved one can be found by calling Lifeline on 13 11 14, Mensline on 1300 789 978, or the Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.