Take That star Mark Owen sorry for affairs

Take That star Mark Owen has said he is "deeply sorry" after admitting he cheated on his partner of five years, before they married in 2009.

Owen, 38, told the Sun newspaper he had been unfaithful with several women during his relationship with Emma Ferguson, the mother of his children.

But he insisted he had been faithful since marrying Ms Ferguson.

In a statement he said: "I'm so deeply sorry for the pain my actions have caused my family and friends."

Phenomenal success

The singer, who has two children with Ferguson, added: "I'd like to ask the media to please respect the privacy of my wife and children during this difficult time."

Owen, who won Celebrity Big Brother in 2002, admitted the affairs to his wife on Wednesday and his confession was published in Thursday's edition of the paper.

"I have been living with the guilt. It has always been there - you carry it around with you," he said.

"It held me back in my relationship with Emma. I wouldn't have done any of this if I had my time again."

The star, who has enjoyed phenomenal success with Take That since they reunited in 2005, said he was "proud" of the fact he had not cheated since tying the knot.

The couple married at Cawdor Parish Church, near Inverness in Scotland, followed by a reception at Cawdor Castle.

The Take That star has confessed that one of the affairs, with accounts manager Neva Hanley, went on for more than four years, but it ended just before he got married.

Owen has also admitted his heavy drinking had caused problems with his relationship with Ferguson.

Take That Star-Mark Owen to leave Rehab.

Mark Owen is reportedly ''responding well'' to treatment for alcohol addiction and hopes to leave rehab next month.

The Take That singer - who admitted earlier this month he had cheated on wife Emma Ferguson several times throughout their relationship - is said to be "responding well" to treatment for alcoholism and plans to check out of the unnamed British clinic much earlier than expected.

A friend said: "Initially, everyone thought he might be in the clinic for months but Mark has been responding really well to treatment.As a result, it has been decided he will leave the clinic next month."

Friends of the couple believe Emma, 33, will take back the 38-year-old pop star for the sake of their children - son Elwood, three, and 15-month-old daughter Willow Rose.

Mark's bandmates - Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Jason Orange - are lending him their full support, as well as former Take That star Robbie Williams

http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/mark-owen-to-leave-rehab-in-april_1136423

Robbie Williams reuniting with Take That for Simon Cowell's Haiti single

Robbie Williams is set to reunite with Take That to sing on Simon Cowell's forthcoming Haiti appeal single. Kylie Minogue, Mariah Carey, Leona Lewis, JLS, James Blunt, Cheryl Cole and Joe McElderry will also feature on the track – a cover of REM's 'Everybody Hurts', reports The Sun.Although Williams recently reunited with his old bandmates for recording sessions, the single will be the first release by the original line-up of the band since he left in 1995.Alexandra Burke, Susan Boyle, Michael Buble, James Morrison and Mika are also set to contribute to the single. Release details are yet to be confirmed

Take That: Doubt their own talents

Take That - who have earned millions since they reformed in 2005 - say they often get disheartened by their writing and are constantly questioning their own abilities. Jason Orange said: “I’m the most negative in the band, asking, ‘Can we do it better?’ all the time. If what we are doing is good enough I always question.”His bandmate Mark Owen added: “Sometimes one of us has to go down a certain path with an idea before we all decide it’s s**t.”However, Howard Donald says the group perform better as a unit now as Gary Barlow is no longer the sole songwriter. He explained in the ‘Take That Presents: The Circus Live’ DVD: “We’ve got a much bigger friendship now that we ever did. “Gary used to write everything at such a rate we were always catching up.”Mark - who had two top 10 singles in the UK chart after the band split in 1996 – admits his own input in the band would be better if he could remember his dreams.He explained: “I write great songs in my sleep. I sing lyrics into my phone. “When I wake up in the morning it’s just me mumbling and falling asleep - but when I’m dreaming I hear all the string arrangements.”

Tattoo and backs X Factor twins John and Edward to win the show, Robbie Williams gets Take That tribute

Robbie Williams sent a particular message out to his former Take That bandmate Gary Barlow during his first full concert for three years.
The singer also shocked fans by backing cocky X Factor contestants the Grimes twins to win the gig as he performed to a sell out crowd in London, setting a world record in the process.
Williams took to the stage to open this year's BBC Electric Proms and paid tribute to Barlow, who is mourning the death of his father.
"About 14 months ago we all got together one night and I got a new best mate... Gary," he said. "I'm sending my love to you - I know it's been a tough week."
The star told the audience he got a Take That tattoo as a tribute to the boy band which launched his career.
He explained that he was inspired to have the artwork put on his arm after enjoying a get-together with Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange and Mark Owen.
Williams added: "But when I showed it to them, they all said in unison: 'you d**k!"'
He opened the show at north London's trendy Roundhouse venue last night with new single Bodies.
Appearing emotional, he said: "You nearly made me cry then, but then I realised it's not The X Factor."
Williams, who appeared on the ITV1 show earlier this month, revealed he was a fan of twins John and Edward Grimes.
"Go for the twins," he told the crowd, who responded with deafening boos.
But he insisted: "John and Edward all the way."
Williams meanwhile dedicated new track Won't Do That to actress girlfriend Ayda Field.
The gig was watched by celebrities including radio DJ Fearne Cotton and singer Will Young.
Later the cheeky singer appeared to hold back tears as he revealed his hit Feel was his auntie's favourite song, saying: "I'm sure she's looking down now."
But he then deadpanned: "She's not dead she's just condescending!"
Last night's performance set a world record for the most simultaneous cinematic screenings of a live concert.
The show was screened in more than 250 cinemas across 23 countries, meaning tens of thousands of the singer's fans across Europe watched the show as it happened.
Williams, who is at number two in the singles charts and was accompanied by a string section, horn section and a full band, is no stranger to setting records. He last did so in 2006 when his epic Close Encounters tour sold 1.6 million tickets in a day.
Guinness World Records editor-in-chief Craig Glenday said: "It's been a few years since we've seen Robbie in the record books so it's great to see him back on stage and breaking records."

Go live Take That

Take That have confirmed the full details of him live album and DVD their forthcoming.
Entitled "The Greatest Day" and "The Circus Live At Wembley Stadium" respectively, both packages feature a bonus disk.
This will include recordings in session at world famous London studio Abbey Road, collecting material from their last two albums.
Interviews with Mark Owen, Jason Orange, Howard Donald and Gary Barlow will also feature.
"The Greatest Day", out on November 30, and "The Circus Live…", due a week earlier, bring together material from across the pop act's career.

'won't take Calais migrants' in UK

Home Secretary Alan Johnson has denied that Britain will be forced to take migrants from the "Calais Jungle" camp which has been shut by French police.
"Reports that the UK will be forced to take illegal immigrants from the 'Jungle' are wrong," he said.
Mr Johnson said refugees should apply for security in the first EU country that they reach.
Migrant pairs say the camp closure will only shift the problem elsewhere in Europe.
The makeshift camp has replaced official centres like Sangatte as a gathering point for migrants hoping to cross to Britain.
Mr Johnson said Britain was working closely with France to prevent illegal immigration and people trafficking.
"We are working with the French not only to strengthen our shared border but that of Europe as a whole," he added.
'Part of the problem'
However, Sir Andrew Green, chairman of the Migrationwatch think tank, suggested that Britain's immigration policy was part of the problem.
"This is a welcome decision but it will not tackle the root cause of the problem, namely that Britain is regarded as a 'soft touch'.
"Why else would people be queuing up in Calais?" he added.
Sir Andrew said the government should be more serious about removing failed asylum seekers, and rule out absolutely any talk of an amnesty.
Richard Ashworth, Conservative MEP for South East England, said the decision to close the camp was long overdue, but the French government wanted to do more if the movement--- is to be resolved.
"It is now incumbent on the French government to deal with illegal immigration at the point of entry into France, and not simply funnel them through creating this sorry bottleneck along the Pas de Calais and Normandy coasts," he says.
'Repeat' warning
Refugee campaigners have welcomed the closure of the camp, but warned that the problem will shift elsewhere.
"It is quite right take it should be shut down," said Dan Hodges from the charity Refugee Action.
"But while it is possible to sweep away the camp, you can't simply sweep away the problem."
Makeshift camps sprang up in Calais following the closure of the Red Cross camp in Sangatte in 2002. Some observers fear that things will be no different this time.
"I remember seven years ago when former home secretary, David Blunkett, and the then French minister of the interior, Nicolas Sarkozy, congratulated themselves on the closure," said Keith Best of the Immigration Advisory Service.
"But the hundreds of asylum seekers merely moved to the dockside of Calais. The liquidation of the jungle will have the same transitory effect," he suggested.
Mr Best said it was very difficult to claim asylum in France, and the French were not playing their part despite obligations under the Geneva Normal.
Donna Covey, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said the closure was dealing with symptoms rather than the cause, and the big question was what happened to the migrants now.
"We hope that all the people, including the very vulnerable, like women and children on their own who are trying to get to a place of safety, are given access to an asylum system.
"This is a European wide problem which needs a solution at European level," she said.

Take Doubles Title Without a Fuss to Williams Sisters

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. Serena Williams made a exultant return to Arthur Ashe Stadium Monday afternoon, teaming with sister Venus to win the U.S. Open's women's doubles title two days after her campaign to defend her 2008 singles title ended in controversy.
The Williams sisters routed the world's top doubles team, Cara Black and Liezel Huber, 6-2, 6-2, before a sparse crowd to claim three of the season's four Grand Slam event crowds.
Venus and Serena opened 2009 by winning the Australian Open doubles title, and they crushed Black Huber in the semifinals en route to the Wimbledon crowd, as well.
But both sisters fell short of their goal in singles play. Venus lost in the fourth round to eventual champion Kim Clijsters.
Serena's ouster came two rounds later when she was assessed a point penalty on match point for her profanity laced tirade against a lineswoman who cited her for a foot fault with Clijsters two points from victory.
The foot fault handed Clijsters, who had outplayed Serena throughout, a match point.
But after getting a new ball to serve, Serena walked instead toward the lineswoman. Shaking a ball in her face, she spewed a stream of profanities and told the woman that, if she could, she would shove the ball down her throat.
Monday, before she and Venus were due to return to Ashe to compete in the women's doubles final, Serena issued an amended statement that unlike the earlier statement she issued Sunday included an apology to the lineswoman and reflected remorse for her behavior. It read:
"I need to better my press statement of yesterday, and need to make it clear as possible I need to sincerely apologize FIRST to the lines woman, Kim Clijsters, the USTA and mostly tennis fans everywhere for my inappropriate outburst. I'm a woman of great pride, faith and unity, and I admit when I'm wrong. I need to make it clear to all young people that I handled myself unsuitably and it's not the way to act win or lose, good call or bad call in any sport, in any manner.
"I like to lead by example. We all learn from experiences both good and bad, I will learn and grow from this, and be a better person as a result."
With no more than 1,000 in the stands when Serena walked on court for the doubles match, it was difficult to read much meaning into the reaction, which consisted of scattered applause and no audible disparaging remarks.

After Java quake to Hundreds take refuge in tents

Hundreds of people in Cianjur, West Java, have taken refuge at emergency tents following a powerful earthquake that rocked western Java on Wednesday, Antara news agency has reported. The Muslims, who are fasting during the recently Islamic month of Ramadan, also had their pre-dawn meal and prayers at the tents on Thursday. “We are afraid to stay inside our houses and to go to the mosque,” Ipah, 58, a occupier from Cicepuk Village in Pamoyanan. Her house was badly damaged during the quake. The 7.3 magnitude quake occurred on Wednesday afternoon, sending panic crosswise the most populous island in the country. At least 35 people were killed in the disaster. The death toll is expected to rise.

Study finds women to take financial risks

WASHINGTON (AP) Women with more testosterone tend to behave more like men when taking financial risks, according to a new study. "Women with higher levels of testosterone turn out to be less risk antogonistic, more willing to take risks," Luigi Zingales of the University of Chicago said in a telephone interview. Known as the male sex hormone, testosterone occurs in both men and women, but at higher levels in men. It has big been associated with fight and dominance, reduction of fear, and with risky behaviors like gambling and alcohol use.Co-author Paola Sapienza of Northwestern University noted that women in general are less likely than men to take financial risks."For example, in our sample set, 36 percent of female MBA students chose high-risk financial careers such as investment banking or trading, equivalence to 57 percent of male students. We needed to explore whether these gender changes are related to testosterone, which men have, on medium, in higher attention than women."Previous research in England showed that higher levels of testosterone seem to boost short term success at finance. Researchers there tested male traders morning and evening, and found that those with higher levels of testosterone in the morning were more likely to make an unusually big profit that day. Zingales and his team tested the testosterone levels of more than 500 MBA students males and females and asked them to choose between a guaranteed financial award or a risky lottery with a higher potential payout. Students had to choose recurrent between the lottery and a fixed payment at increasing values.In general, men had higher levels of testosterone and were more likely to choose the risky lottery than women.But it also turned out that women with higher levels of testosterone were almost seven times more likely to take risks that women with lower hormone levels.On the other hand, there was no change in risk tasking between those with comparatively low levels of testosterone 90 percent of women and 31 percent of men.In addition, the researchers found that married men and women had lower levels of testosterone than single individuals."Married people are also known to be more risk opposed than unmarried people," they noted.The research was funded by the Templeton Foundation, the Zell Center for Risk Research and the Center for Research in Security Prices and the first on Global Markets at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.