Robbie Williams reveals mother Janet Williams’ devastating dementia diagnosis
Singer Robbie Williams has shared sad news about his mother Janet. The mum of the former Take That member has been diagnosed with dementia.
Robbie, 50, shared the news during an interview with HELLO!, during which he discussed his upcoming biopic Better Man, due for release on December 26.
“My mum’s currently got dementia – like my nan in the film – and my dad’s got Parkinsons and can’t get out of bed. So I’m in a different part of my life right now,” he shared.
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It was in 2020 that Williams first shared the news his father Pete Conway had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
He told The Mirror: ”We’ve got a lot of family issues right now. My dad has got Parkinson’s, my mother-in-law who I love dearly has got a very big illness. We can’t get to them. My dad is thousands of miles away.”
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Williams and wife Ayda Field Williams wed in 2010 and share three children. Ayda’s mother Gwen was first diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2020 and has also previously battled breast cancer.
Her cervical cancer has now returned, meaning Williams and his wife have their hands full caring for their children and their parents.
Williams’ parents divorced in 1977 when the singer was just three. After the divorce Conway built a career as a singer and stand-up comedian.
Better Man is a semi-biographical film about Williams in which the singer is portrayed as a chimpanzee, to reflect the fact he always felt “less evolved” than other people.
It premiered at the 51st Telluride Film Festival on August 30.
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A Netflix documentary in which Williams reflected on his past called Robbie Williams was released in 2023.
The Take That star viewed footage from his time as part of the band and reflected on fame and his time in the spotlight.
Williams recently spoke out following the release of BBC documentary Boybands Forever, in particular Take That manager Nigel Martin-Smith. Both appear in the three-part documentary.
In the series, Williams laid blame for his past drug use on Martin-Smith, however, he clarified his comments in a lengthy social media post.
He began the post by saying: “Hey Nige. Hope all is good in your world and life is being kind to you.”
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“Just thought I’d jot down a few thoughts about our appearance together as talking heads on Boybands Forever.”
Williams said he was “equal parts terrified and excited” to be sharing the screen with is former manager, explaining it “triggered” some emotions.
He then clarified: ”My drug taking was never your fault. My response to the warped world that surrounded me is solely my own. How I chose to self-medicate is and was something that I will be monitoring and dealing with for the whole of my life. It’s part of my makeup and I would have the same malady had I been a taxi driver.
”I just got there quicker due to having the finances while trying in vain to counteract the turbulence of pop stardom’s matrix-bending washing machine.”
Martin-Smith has not responded to Williams’ post.
Williams left Take That in 1995 and the group continued as a foursome until he rejoined in 2010 for the sixth studio album, Progress. He then left again in 2011, followed by Jason Orange in 2014.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction contact the Alcohol Drug Information Service on 1800 250 015 or Narcotics Anonymous Australia on 1300 652 820.
For dementia support contact Dementia Australia’s National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500.
For Parkinson’s disease support contact Parkinson’s Australia’s infoline on 1800 644 189.