Take That star Jason Orange has revealed that “bullying” may have been the reason why Robbie Williams decided to quit the group.

The singer left the band in 1996 to launch a solo career, but has since reformed with his former band for a new album.

In an interview with Q magazine, Orange said that as the youngest member of the boy band Williams was often treated differently to the others.

"He was the kid in the band and maybe I bullied him in some ways, not overtly but covertly,” the singer said. “He took exception and rightly so.

"We had a lot of tensions going on and it's easy in a group for one person to become the scapegoat. I think we did that to a large extent with Rob."

Elsewhere in the interview, Williams revealed that he had wanted to rejoin the band since the release of his 2002 solo album 'Escapology'.

Meanwhile, Take That have revealed that artwork for new album 'Progress', which is released on November 22.