'Hello Cheryl? It's Robbie...' Take That want Cheryl Cole to support them on sell-out 2011 tour
By MAIL ONLINE SHOWBIZ REPORTER
'Let's talk': Cheryl Cole arrives at the X Factor studios yesterday on her phone
She is one of the most in-demand women in the UK right now, and Cheryl Cole has just landed herself some more fans.
Take That have revealed that the X Factor judge is their number one choice to support them on their tour next year.
Cheryl arrived at the X Factor studios yesterday with her mobile phone glued to her ear.
Dressed in dark skinny jeans, gold heels and a warm navy coat, Cheryl waved to fans as she chatted on her way from her chauffeured Mercedes into the studio.
Take That revealed they were a fan of the Promise This singer during an interview with BBC Radio 1's Scott Mills.
When the radio host asked them who would be joining on the 2011 tour, which starts in Sunderland on May 30, the band were at first coy on the topic.
'We had a talk about it yesterday actually,' Robbie Williams said. 'And a few names have been thrown about and we're asking them at the minute, so we better not say.'
'Do you have her direct line?': Take That said during an interview on Radio 1 that Cheryl was their pick to support them on their UK tour
When Cheryl's name was brought up Mark Owens enthused, 'Do you have her direct line?' Rapper Tinie Tempah has also been mooted as a potential support act.
The Take That boys also chatted at length about their favourite X Factor finalists during the thirty minute-long interview.
Robbie, who sang during the finals last year with runner up Olly Murs, asked how 17-year-old Cher Lloyd was progressing, while Gary Barlow said he liked Mary Byrne and Matt Cardle.
Asked if they liked One Direction, they said the youngsters reminded them of themselves. 'They're quite good, they're like us when we started.'
'They're tiny,' Robbie added. 'They're like five Mark Owens. Owens slash Bieber.'
Fans: The revelation was made during an interview on Radio 1
Thousands of Take That fans were left devastated yesterday when ticket websites crashed, unable to cope with the high demand.
However, a statement from the group urged Take That fans to keep trying as tickets are currently still available to buy.
The statement read: 'Due to totally unprecedented demand all ticket agents have struggled to cope with the number of people logging on to try and buy Take That tickets.'
The tour went on sale at 9am and tickets had already sprung up on eBay by last night with many on sale for upwards of £10,000.
Last night, 35 fans were embroiled in a fierce bidding war on eBay. With hours still to go on the auction for two standing at Wembley, the price had reached £999,999.
Another auction had received a bid of £375,000, while dozens were offering tickets priced between £20,000 and £60,000.
Music promoter Harvey Goldsmith said: ‘This is an absolute mess. Half the people putting things up for sale online don’t actually even have them and are taking advantage of the fact that people panic, and they are vulnerable.
‘You also have unscrupulous people who have no interest in Take That or whichever band and realise they can pay for their next holiday or their extension simply by getting hold of tickets and adding a huge mark-up.’
Extra dates were added to cope with the demand, taking the total number of UK shows to 25, and Robbie Williams posted a comment on the Twitter website pleading with fans to use official outlets.
He said: ‘Please do not purchase tickets from unofficial agents or eBay; we cannot vouch for their authenticity and you could end up out of pocket.’
'They're like us when we started': The band chatted about their X Factor favourites, including 'tiny' One Direction
Hot tickets: Thousands of Take That fans were devastated this morning when ticket websites crashed due to overwhelming demand as the tour went on sale