Take That and Robbie Williams to tour

Robbie Williams is to tour with Take That for the first time in 16 years when the reunited group go on a stadium tour next summer.

They have announced initial dates in Sunderland, Manchester, Cardiff, Dublin, Glasgow, Birmingham and London in May, June and July.

Tickets go on sale on Friday. They will also take the show across Europe.

The band's last UK tour - without Williams - was seen by a record-breaking one million people in 2009.

Williams rejoined the group this summer and their new album, Progress, will be released next month.

The singer said the gigs would include a mixture of his solo material and the band's hits.

The five group members picked up a prize at the Q Awards in London on Monday

"There's going to be a bit for everybody," he told a press conference in London. "I'm going to be doing a bit, the lads are going to be doing a bit then we're all going to be doing a bit."

Gary Barlow added: "Some fans might be coming just to see Rob, some fans might be coming to see the four of us, some fans will be coming to see the five of us.

"On this night they'll get to see us all doing our individual bits."

Last summer Barlow, Mark Owen, Jason Orange and Howard Donald performed 20 stadium concerts - beating U2 and Michael Jackson to the title of the UK and Ireland's biggest ever tour.

Williams has also been one of the country's most popular live acts since leaving the group in 1995.

Asked whether he had only rejoined the group because of his dwindling solo fortunes, Williams responded: "The greatest hits album was number one in 14 countries. My last album sold more than Circus [Take That's last album]."

More dates are likely to be added if tickets for the current shows sell quickly, as is expected. No prices have been announced.

"It's going to be a big production stadium show," Barlow told reporters. "It's not going to be a stripped back acoustic set.

"We're looking forward to coming up with big ideas and for it to be a spectacular again."