Take That – band hints it may split again

The duo, who have recorded a single – Shame – together which was premiered yesterday, said the group's only firm plans are for an album and live shows.

After 18 months they may go their separate ways, they admitted as they appeared on BBC Radio 1 yesterday to unveil the single.

The group and Williams had bickered for more than a decade after he left for a solo career. They cleared the air after more than a decade of feuding when they met up in Los Angeles around 18 months ago.

Last month they announced they had recorded an album and yesterday confirmed they were plotting their live show – but anything beyond that was uncertain.

Asked about the future, Barlow said: "I don't know the answer to that. We agreed when we started – it's 20 years since we began, it's our 20th year for all of us – to do a one-off album and maybe a one-off tour would be a great thing this year.

"But I think once we've done that, Rob will go back to being Rob, we'll go back to being a four."