With Robbie Williams’ new biography, Feel currently riding high in the, erm, non-fiction charts, it's no surprise that 'those' rumours have once again raised their sordid little head. Tales about Robbie Williams’ sexuality can be traced back to his early days with Take That, and are certainly understandable considering the fab five were actively marketed through gay clubs. Popular rumours at that time included claims that the audition for the band included sleeping with the manager Nigel Martin Smith and that two of the boys enjoyed a passionate affair at the height of the band's success. 

In the new biography Robbie lists his endless conquests with the fairer sex, but makes no reference to dalliances with men - although on the eve of the book's publication, Nathan Conroy was set to change all that.

In an interview in classy publication, The People, the hunky dancer became the first gay person to make first hand claims about the singer's sexuality. He told the newspaper: "Robbie kissed me like I had never been kissed before. It was powerful and passionate. It left no doubt in my mind that he is into men in a big way."

Robbie is apparently furious about the claims that they met at a gay night at Manchester's infamous Hacienda and is considering taking legal action against the newspaper.

The Rumours
In the story, Conroy claims, "I was leaning against a sink [in the toilets of the club] when Robbie walked in wearing an unbuttoned baggy white shirt with big cuffs - very gay. He went to one of the cubicles, turned around, looked straight in my eye and beckoned me to go with him. I didn't think twice."

Robbie, then aged 20, and Nathan, 21, kissed passionately and performed sex acts on each other. Their moans could be heard by Nathan's friends. Nathan said: "Even though I was slightly older than Robbie, I was very inexperienced. He wasn't. He took the lead. The kissing was so powerful. It was full on."

Apparently the pair remained in the cubicle for at least 20 minutes, with Robbie begging the dancer for full gay sex, although Nathan refused.

"I was young and new to the whole gay thing. Robbie definitely wasn't.  Nathan then claims that when the club closed, the singer gave him his phone number on EMI record company paper. Nathan later discovered Robbie had given him the wrong number.

A year later, Nathan says he bumped into the singer again at Manchester's Paradise Factory.  "He maybe seemed a bit shy," continues Nathan, "but spoke like we were old friends. He said in my ear, 'I need to talk to you,' and indicated for us to go to the nearby toilets. I had begun seeing someone else so told him I wasn't interested. I walked off but my friend remained speaking to him. He later told me that Robbie had tried it on with him as well. My friend also refused. I later saw Robbie disappear with another bloke down the dark streets at the back of the Paradise Factory. It was obvious what was going on."

Of course, Robbie Williams has done little to play down his gay tendencies, although it is only since Nathan's claims have become public, Williams has felt the sting of the double-edged sword. When presenting Top Of The Pops soon after leaving Take That, he said, "Tomorrow I will be coming out as homosexual so get in there while you can, girls."

When dismissing his claimed romance with Geri Halliwell, he told reporters: “I'm gay anyway." Of course, Williams’ relationship with his best friend Jonathan Wilkes has been played up by both of them, including their memorable innuendo laden performance of ‘Me And My Shadow’ at the Swing When You're Winning concert.

Most recently when speaking to US gay magazine The Advocate, he admitted to wanted to sleep with American actor The Rock, although in the book he only admits to his string of girlfriends, leading up to his current relationship with Cuban Nip / Tuck actress Valerie Cruz.    

Oh Peter…
In the biography, Robbie does however reveal how he shouted out, "Oh Peter," when his first girlfriend performed an intimate sex act on him. At the time Take That had been touring with D:ream, a dance group headed by Peter Cunnah, and best known for the song 'Things Can Only get Better.'

"Natasha and I were just getting down to it," says Robbie. "I fell asleep - after nine shows on the trot I was knackered. I was chatting to Peter in my dream and asked him whether we had gone down well, and then I said, "Oh Peter."

The Former Manger: Nigel Martin-Smith
Also in the book, Robbie describes how his former Take That manager Nigel Martin-Smith, now owner of gay club Essential in Manchester destroyed his confidence. His certainly doesn't hide his hatred for Martin-Smith who he calls "spawn of Satan," and claims that the manager told people he was gay. 

"When I first went into Take That I thought I could do everything, but I left thinking I could do nothing…I just remember being shit-scared of Nigel and I really wanted him to like me…He was the person, I believe in my life that fucked with my head, and I just didn't have the facilities to deal with it." 

Nigel, however, blames Robbie's inability to deal with his sexuality as the major cause of the singer's insecurity and his drug and alcohol issues.

"It's very sad that Robbie has turned out like he has. He doesn't seem at all happy. He has been suppressed and the ramifications of that are now beginning to show. He looks a mess - he looks like a lost unhappy individual.

“It's very telling that none of his relationships with women has lasted. He is now dating another actress in LA. It won't last. It's all for show. Deep down he is gay.

“Robbie and I were completely comfortable with each other. He was the more dominant one and knew what he wanted. That's not the behaviour of a man who is experimenting for fun. It was for real."

Robbie Williams’ new single 'Radio' is released on 4 October 2004, while his biography Feel is currently available from all good book shops. The Greatest Hits of Robbie Williams is released on 18 October, pre-order your copy now!