Gary Barlow shares rarely-seen children's surprisingly normal jobs away from music

Gary Barlow, the Take That legend and multi-talented star, has opened up about his family life, revealing that his children are not following in his showbiz footsteps. The 53 year old heartthrob, who shares three kids with his wife Dawn – Daniel, 24, Emily, 22, and Daisy, 15 – got candid while discussing his latest venture, Gary Barlow's Wine Tour: South Africa. The new ITV series takes viewers on a journey with Gary as he explores South Africa's lush vineyards in search of the perfect wine.

In 2021, Gary joined the ranks of celebrities with their own wine labels, launching an organic range from Spain. Now, he's taking his passion for vino to the small screen with a travelogue that promises to be a treat for wine enthusiasts. The five-part series kicks off in the Western Cape, where Gary delves into the region's grape varieties, sustainable practices, and the art of pairing wine with food.

"I’ve not really done anything like this on TV before," Gary shares excitedly. "I was fortunately already travelling around the world a bit for my own wine business and getting to see these amazing estates, and just having these brand new experiences. I felt people should know about all this and the process, too."

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The talented Gary has spilled the beans on how he brought his latest ITV series to life, citing a recent visit as his inspiration: "I suggested the idea, and specifically South Africa, to ITV because I had recently been there and said, ‘If there’s a place to start that has the wow factor, South Africa is it.’ It just looks incredible, it’s such an interesting place."

Teaming up with renowned faces including the beloved This Morning presenter Ben Shephard, Gary gushes about the reunion, "I had been looking for something to do with my good friend Ben for ages so I was thrilled he could make this work," adding lightheartedly, "When Ben arrived I was thinking, ‘Ah, a real host! ’ and it meant I didn’t have to try so hard! " Not only does Gary connect with Shephard on his journey, but he's also accompanied by Jane McDonald, Mica Paris, and Michaela Strachan. A special moment for him was reconnecting with Strachan, who hosted the very first Take That performance on television.

"Michaela fronted the very first TV show that Take That ever performed on called The Hitman & Her, so with that incredible history we shared, it all just felt perfect," he shares. And whilst Gary has always loved wine, he reveals that delving into the drink's intricate world for the show was a profound learning curve for him.

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Gary Barlow has opened up about his new ITV series, insisting he's no wine expert. While Gary has harboured a 30-year passion for wine, he stresses that this trip was a real learning experience for him. "I didn’t want to come across as any kind of wine expert, because I’m not. I just wanted to approach this as someone who is trying to learn about it all and hopefully show the audience that they don’t need to feel too daunted by wine or knowing what to choose when they next order in a restaurant," he shares.

The Take That star has had a busy year, juggling filming with a world tour alongside bandmates Mark Owen and Howard Donald. "Thankfully, I filmed this before the tour started," Gary reveals. "When I was out in South Africa, during the days when I was travelling for three hours, I’d be listening to my tapes and things, so I knew what I was doing [on tour]. It’s on my mind a lot when we’re about to start one."

While jetting off around the globe, Gary leaves behind his wife Dawn, 54, and their children – Daniel, 24, Emily, 22, and 15 year old Daisy – who aren't keen on following in their dad's showbiz footsteps. "I don’t think any of my children are following in my footsteps," Gary confesses. "Daniel and Emily have gone into medicine and physiology and my youngest Daisy, I’m not too sure what she’s heading for but she’s very studious... unlike me and my wife!"

And for those Take That fans worried that Gary might be leaving the band to become a TV presenter or live the high life in sunny vineyards, he reassured them that it's definitely not on his agenda. For Gary, music remains his true passion. "Music is still always at the heart of everything I do. I’m definitely not a budding TV presenter – if someone said to me a few years ago that I’d be doing a travel show, I would’ve been like, ‘Why do I want to do that? ’ but I’ve absolutely loved it."

He explained that his role on the show is about sharing experiences with friends in new environments, rather than being a traditional host. "My job on this particular show is not about me being a host, it’s about spending time with people that I know very well in a slightly alien, but brilliant environment and sharing the wonders of what we experience. I definitely don’t read off an autocue, it’s all very natural and non-scripted in a ‘come on this journey with me and let’s experience it together’ way."

When it comes to travel tips, Gary swears by packing light – although his wife Dawn might disagree. "Dawn reckons I under-pack," he says. "I’m ambitious, apparently, with a pair of undies!"